Albert of Aix: HISTORIA HIEROSOLYMITANAE EXPEDITIONIS

In anno secundo postquam Sidon capta est, et Tankradus Sareptam percussit et obtinuit, rex Baldewinus convocata omni Ecclesia Jerusalem ab universis locis quae sub manu ejus erant, iniit consilium quatenus obsideret Sur, quae adhuc rebellabat et conchristianis fratribus terra marique calumnias inferebat, et a tributis et pacto recesserat in omnibus quae regi promiserat mentita. Universis vero admonitis, ac voluntariis ad hanc obsidionem inventis, dies statuta est qua convenirent, et ex decreto regis positis tentoriis moenia vallarent et coangustarent.

In the second year after Sidon was captured, and Tancred smote and took Sarepta, King Baldwin, the whole Church of Jerusalem having been convoked from all the places that were under his hand, entered into counsel that he should besiege Tyre, which was still rebelling and was inflicting calumnies by land and sea upon the fellow-Christian brothers, and had withdrawn from tributes and from the pact, having lied in all the things which she had promised to the king. But when all had been admonished, and volunteers for this siege had been found, a day was appointed on which they should convene, and, by the decree of the king, with the tents pitched, they would invest and constrict the walls.

CAP. II. - Quod Tyrii contra regem cum principe Damascenorum foedus inierunt et pepigerunt. [0696D]

CHAPTER 2. - That the Tyrians, against the king, entered into and concluded a treaty with the prince of the Damascenes. [0696D]

Talis autem fama ut in auribus Tyriorum insonuit, vehementer perterriti inierunt foedus cum quodam Dochino principe Damascenorum, ut tutelam et solatium ab eo consequerentur, et thesauros civitatis, et quae habebant pretiosiora in custodia et conclavi Damasci ejus consensu et licentia deportarent. Rogaverunt etiam ut eis viros sagittarios et defensores urbis in auxilium mitteret in conventione solidorum, viginti millium byzantiorum sibi suisque dare promittentes.

When such a report resounded in the ears of the Tyrians, greatly terrified, they entered into a treaty with a certain Dochinus, prince of the Damascenes, that they might obtain tutelage and solace from him, and that, with his consent and license, they might transport the treasures of the city and whatever they had most precious into the custody and strongroom of Damascus. They also asked that he send to them sagittaries and defenders of the city to aid them, under a convention of solidi, promising to give 20,000 byzants to him and to his own.

CAP. III. - De Reinfrido milite Christiano, cujus conductu nobiles Tyriorum a rege catenati sunt. [0697A]

CHAPTER 3. - On Reinfrid, a Christian miles (knight), by whose conduct the nobles of the Tyrians were chained by the king. [0697A]

Hoc itaque pacto utrinque sub fide data accepto et firmato, Tyrii cives quemdam Reinfridum nomine, virum Christianum et illustrem militem regis, mille byzantiorum praemio promisso et dato convenerunt, quatenus ejus conductu in Damascum sarcinas thesaurorum suorum pacifice transferrent, et sine impedimento cum camelis et vehiculis repedarent. Reinfridus vero vir levis et non multum pensans, si fidem erga gentiles et incredulos violaret, universa regi detulit, ac diem qua transituri erant in Damascum cum universis copiis et rebus pretiosis propalavit, asserens regem haec omnia posse capere ac retinere sine contradictione. Hoc rex audiens, [0697B] sine mora peditibus ac militibus ducentis accitis, jussit viam obsidere et caute observare per quas semitas viri Damascum cum sarcinis profecturi erant.

Therefore, this pact on both sides having been accepted and ratified under faith given, the Tyrian citizens made an agreement with a certain Reinfrid by name, a Christian man and an illustrious knight of the king, with a reward of a thousand byzants promised and given, to the end that under his escort they might peacefully transfer to Damascus the packs of their treasures, and return without impediment with camels and vehicles. But Reinfrid, a frivolous man and not much considering whether he would violate good faith toward gentiles and unbelievers, reported everything to the king, and disclosed the day on which they were to pass into Damascus with all their forces and precious goods, asserting that the king could seize and retain all these things without contradiction. The king, hearing this, [0697B] without delay, having summoned two hundred foot-soldiers and knights, ordered the road to be beset and carefully watched, through which by-paths the men were about to set out to Damascus with their packs.

Et ecce in silentio noctis, cum omnia solent quiescere, Tyrii cum camelis suis, incomputabili auro, argento, ostro et quibusque aliis pretiosis ornatis, conductu praefati Reinfridi viam Damasci venerunt. Cum subito regis insidiae in eos irruentes alios occiderunt, alios tenuerunt, et thesauros infinitos cum purpura pretiosa et serico varii coloris et operis rapientes, cum ipso Reinfrido, in vehiculis camelorum et mulorum abduxerunt

And behold, in the silence of night, when all things are wont to rest, the Tyrians, with their camels, adorned with incalculable gold, silver, purple, and with whatever other precious things, under the escort of the aforesaid Reinfrid, came by the road to Damascus. When suddenly the king’s ambush, rushing upon them, killed some, seized others, and, snatching up treasures infinite with precious purple and silk of various color and workmanship, carried them off, together with Reinfrid himself, on the vehicles of camels and mules.

CAP. IV. - Quomodo princeps Damascenorum Tyriis subvenerit, et qualiter eosdem rex obsederit.

CHAPTER 4. - How the prince of the Damascenes succored the Tyrians, and how the king besieged those same.

Thesauri miri et inauditi illic capti sunt, quos rex [0697C] liberali manu militibus longa nunc indigentia oppressis benigne largitus est. His ita captis, his occisis, paucis vero elapsis, Dochinus, apud quem sperabant refugium, valde molestatus, sine mora quingentos milites in sagitta et arcu peritos ad urbem Tyriorum direxit ut praevenirent regis obsidionem, et regi suisque ab urbe resistentes, in conventione solidorum civibus subvenirent. Rex itaque Baldewinus in virtute et apparatu decem millium a Jerusalem descendens in vigilia S. Andreae apostoli, civitatis moenia in arido positis castris occupavit; a mari vero in ipso urbis latere et portu navalis obsidio non magnae virtutis et armaturae fuit.

Wondrous and unheard-of treasures were there captured, which the king [0697C], with liberal hand, graciously bestowed upon the soldiers, who were now oppressed by long indigence. These thus taken, these slain, but a few having slipped away, Dochinus, with whom they were hoping for refuge, being greatly vexed, without delay sent five hundred soldiers skilled in arrow and bow to the city of the Tyrians, that they might forestall the king’s siege, and that they might, by a compact of solidi, aid the citizens resisting the king and his men from the city. King Baldwin therefore, with the force and equipment of ten thousand, descending from Jerusalem on the Vigil of St. Andrew the Apostle, occupied the walls of the city, his camp having been pitched on dry ground; but from the sea, on the very side of the city and its harbor, the naval blockade was not of great prowess and armature.

Promiserat enim rex Graecorum, illic per aquas copias adfuturas; [0697D] sed hieme incumbente, minime collatae sunt.

For the king of the Greeks had promised that there, forces by water would be present; [0697D] but with winter pressing on, they were by no means supplied.

CAP. V. - Quod rege urbem vallante, Tyrii portis egressi, sed mox mirabiliter a rege repressi, quosdam secum intrantes occiderunt.

CHAPTER 5. - That, while the king was investing the city, the Tyrians, having gone forth from the gates, but soon, marvelously, repressed by the king, killed certain men who were entering along with them.

Rex autem, postquam obsidionem firmavit et munimine valli se suumque exercitum circumfodit, ne impetus adversariorum ex improviso irrueret, aggressus vi urbem, turres et moenia omni genere bellico oppugnavit, de die in diem crebris assuitibus iteratis. Turci vero, qui in grandine sagittarum confundunt et resistunt, econtra per moenia et turres diffusi, strages et gravia vulnera Christianorum non parce multiplicabant, et ad portas et vectes ferreos concurrentium multitudinem, lapidum incessabili jactu, sulphuris quoque ac picis ferventis [0698A] effusione suffocabant. Quodam denique die post plurimos assultus et diutinos labores, dum paulisper a foris respiraret exercitus manusque contineret a belli opere, deintus vero Tyrii et eorum Turci milites silentium tenerent, sed tamen consilium iniissent quatenus in momento a portis in impetu castra regis irrumperent; mox armis resumptis, lorica et galea induti, subito quasdam portas aperientes, in multitudine gravi in apertam camporum planitiem, quam rex et exercitus nunc belli immemor habitabat, usque ad loca tentoriorum concurrere ausi sunt, plurimos sagittis transfigentes, et clamore magno et horrisono totum exercitum commoventes.

But the king, after he had made the siege firm and, with the fortification of a rampart, had dug around himself and his army, lest an onset of the adversaries should rush in unexpectedly, attacking the city by force, assaulted the towers and the walls with every kind of warlike means, day by day with frequent assaults renewed. The Turks, indeed, who in a hail of arrows confound and resist, on the other hand, spread along the walls and towers, did not sparingly multiply slaughters and grievous wounds of the Christians, and the multitude that was running together to the gates and iron bars they were suffocating by incessant casting of stones, and by the outpouring of sulphur and of boiling pitch [0698A]. Finally, on a certain day, after very many assaults and long labors, while for a little while the army outside took breath and held back their hands from the work of war, but inside the Tyrians and their Turkish soldiers kept silence—yet had formed a plan that in a moment from the gates, in an onrush, they would break into the king’s camp—soon, arms resumed, clad in cuirass and helmet, suddenly opening certain gates, in a heavy multitude into the open level of the fields, which the king and the army now, forgetful of war, were occupying, they dared to run even to the places of the tents, piercing very many with arrows, and with a great and dread-sounding clamor stirring the whole army.

Et ecce sine mora universi milites Christianorum attoniti, e cunctis castris in armis et lanceis [0698B] loricati in faciem illis advolant, et hinc et illinc plurima fortitudine contendentes; sed tandem Christiani praevalentes, Tyrios in fugam versos in portam coegerunt, sicut utrique, hi fuga veloci, hi celeri insecutione permisti, potenter urbem ingressi sunt. Turci Tyriique Gallos jam secum urbem intrasse contuentes, reversi sunt in faciem se a tergo prementium; et fortiter obsistentes ac moenia ascendentes, exercitum adhuc intrare contendentem omni armatura jaculorum reprimebant, quousque in virtute sua praevalentes portas clauserunt et circiter ducentos intra muros retinuerunt. Illic Willhelmus de Wanges, miles gloriosus et nobilis, itemque Willhelmus mirae audaciae et militaris famae cum egregiis sociis equitibus et peditibus capti, sententia [0698C] capitali perierunt; caeteri complures vinculis catenarum astricti sunt.

And behold, without delay all the soldiers of the Christians, astonished, from all the camps, in arms and lances [0698B] cuirassed, fly at them face-on, and on this side and that contending with very great fortitude; but at length the Christians prevailing, they drove the Tyrians, turned to flight, into the gate, and thus both—these in swift flight, those in swift pursuit—mingled together, mightily entered the city. The Turks and Tyrians, beholding that the Gauls had already entered the city with them, turned to face those pressing them from behind; and, resisting stoutly and ascending the walls, they were checking the army still striving to enter with every armature of missiles, until, prevailing in their own prowess, they closed the gates and kept about 200 within the walls. There William of Wanges, a glorious and noble knight, likewise William of wondrous audacity and military fame, together with distinguished comrades, horse and foot, having been captured, perished by a capital sentence [0698C]; the rest, many, were bound with chains.

CAP. VI. - Tyrii duas machinas Christianorum pice et sulphure mirabiliter combusserunt.

CHAPTER 6. - The Tyrians marvelously burned two machines of the Christians with pitch and sulfur.

Deinde post dies aliquot videns rex assultu et lapidum tormento se civibus et muris prorsus non nocere, duas fieri constituit machinas muros plurima altitudine supereminentes, ac componi ordine duorum coenaculorum: quarum una ex sumptu et labore Eustachii Granarii, praeclari militis et primi de domo et consilio regis, ad unguem constructa et erecta est. In hac ergo idem Eustachius cum electis manens tironibus, Tyrios mane, meridie, vespere per urbem gradientes omni genere jaculorum alios [0698D] interimebant, alios vulnerabant, per turres, moenia et omnia urbis loca speculantes. Non minus ab altera machina milites regis inibi constituti, Turcos Tyriosque impugnabant, et sic eos ab ostio progressos arcu Baleari ferientes perimebant.

Then after a few days, seeing that by assault and by the stone‑throwing engine he was not at all harming the citizens and the walls, the king resolved that two machines be made overtopping the walls by a very great height, and to be composed in the order of two upper‑stories; of which one, at the expense and labor of Eustace Grenier, a distinguished soldier and foremost of the king’s household and council, was constructed to perfection and erected. In this, therefore, the same Eustace, remaining with chosen recruits, morning, midday, and evening, as the Tyrians went through the city, with every kind of missiles they were killing some, [0698D] wounding others, keeping watch through the towers, the ramparts, and all the places of the city. No less from the other machine the king’s soldiers stationed therein were assailing Turks and Tyrians, and thus, striking them with the Balearic bow as they advanced from the gate, they were killing them.

Tyrii quoque econtra lapides aptabant ad quassandas machinas et eas inhabitantes; sed machinae coriis taurinis, camelinis, equinis, cratibus vimineis vestitae, jactus lapidum palosque ferreos et ignitos illaesae et immobiles sustinebant. Tyrii, cernentes quia hoc modo machinis nocere nequibant, alia arte machinas atterere conati sunt. Arborem procerae altitudinis funibus erigentes, circulum quemdam amplum et spaciosum in modum coronae ex grandi ligno componentes, summitati arboris catenis ferreis affixerunt; [0699A] ac eumdem ligneum circulum in circuitu pice, sulphure, cera, adipe, permistis stuppis impinguantes, ignique aqua inexstinguibili succendentes, usque ad locum murorum, quo machina Eustachii sita erat, funibus pertraxerunt.

Likewise the Tyrians in turn were fitting stones for shattering the machines and the men inhabiting them; but the machines, clothed with bovine, camel, and equine hides, and with wicker hurdles of osiers, withstood unharmed and unmoved the casts of stones and the iron and ignited stakes. The Tyrians, perceiving that they were unable to harm the machines in this way, tried by another art to wear the machines down. Raising a tree of towering height with ropes, and constructing a certain broad and spacious circle in the manner of a crown from great timber, they affixed it to the summit of the tree with iron chains; [0699A] and the same wooden circle, along its circumference, they fattened with pitch, sulphur, wax, and fat, with tow mixed in, and, kindling it with fire inextinguishable by water, they dragged it with ropes up to the place of the walls where the machine of Eustachius was situated.

Qui subito nimium flammivomus ab arbore in machinam laxatur, quam undique flammae intolerabiles cingentes, grandi et insuperabili incendio combusserunt, cum plurima parte virorum, qui ignem excutere et exstinguere conati nequaquam evadere potuerunt. Eodem modo et arte regis machina combusta et in nihilum redacta est. Sic machinis his pariter combustis, tamen rex in obsidione mansit imperterritus, volens urbem aut fame aut aliqua arte adhuc edomare.

Which, suddenly belching excessive flame, is loosed from the tree onto the machine, and flames intolerable encircling it on all sides burned it up with a great and insuperable conflagration, together with a very great part of the men, who, trying to shake off and extinguish the fire, were by no means able to escape. In the same way, and by the king’s art, the machine was burned and reduced to nothing. Thus, with these machines likewise burned, nevertheless the king remained undaunted in the siege, wishing still to subdue the city either by famine or by some artifice.

CAP. VII. - Legatio Tyriorum ad principem Damascenorum, et reversio regis in Jerusalem post adventum eorum. [0699B]

CHAPTER 7. - The embassy of the Tyrians to the prince of the Damascenes, and the return of the king to Jerusalem after their arrival. [0699B]

Ad haec denique regis constantiam et animum immobilem Tyrii cognoscentes, direxerunt clam legationem Damascum, quatenus Dochinus magnus princeps eis subveniret, magnam illi spondentes pecuniam et jurantes se semper in ejus auxilio et obsequio permanere. Qui illico viginti millibus equitum ascitis, per montana descendit usque ad confinia Tyri, ut in crastino regem suosque in castris incurreret, et sic urbem de manu regis et ejus obsidione liberaret. Eodem vero die, quo idem Dochinus, vel Duodechinus, confinia Tyri per montana intravit, armigeri septingenti cum sexaginta probis equitibus de exercitu regis, ad quaerenda pabula [0699C] equorum egressi, irruerunt casu et ignoranter super arma et vires Turcorum: qui universi in sagitta et gladio ab hostibus perempti ac detruncati, perierunt, praeter paucos, qui vix evadentes, retulerunt quae gesta sunt.

To these things, finally, the Tyrians, recognizing the king’s constancy and immobile mind, sent a legation secretly to Damascus, in order that Dochinus, the great prince, should succor them, promising him great money and swearing to remain always in his aid and service. He forthwith, having summoned twenty thousand horsemen, descended through the mountain country as far as the borders of Tyre, so that on the morrow he might fall upon the king and his men in their camp, and thus free the city from the king’s hand and his siege. On that same day, on which that same Dochinus, or Duodechinus, entered the borders of Tyre through the mountains, seven hundred men-at-arms with sixty proven knights from the king’s army, having gone out to seek fodder [0699C] for the horses, by chance and unknowingly rushed upon the arms and forces of the Turks: and all, by arrow and sword, were slain and hewn down by the enemies, and perished, save a few who, scarcely escaping, reported what had been done.

Hoc denique comperto, quod tot millia jam juxta convenissent et armigeros militesque regis peremissent, rex ex consilio optimatum suorum, qui diutina obsidione vexati erant, et rebus et cibariis exhausti, tentoria sustulit, ac die Dominica, quae est ante Dominicam Palmarum, Ptolemaidem et caeteras civitates pertransiens, ipsa sancta et celebri die Palmarum per portam, quae respicit ad montem Olivarum, per quam et Dominus Jesus asello insidens intravit, ipse cum suis et una cum quibusdam magnificis legatis Graecorum, qui ad eum [0699D] supervenerant, dum adhuc in obsidione esset, intromissus est. Egit denique illam sanctam hebdomadam sancta loca perlustrans, in oratione et eleemosynarum largitione et delictorum confessione. Diem vero sancti Paschae in omni honore et gloria propter legatos regis Graecorum jussu domini patriarchae coronatus solemniter ac regaliter celebravit.

With this at last discovered, namely that so many thousands had already gathered nearby and had slain the armor-bearers and soldiers of the king, the king, by the counsel of his optimates, who had been vexed by a long siege and were exhausted both of resources and of provisions, broke camp, and on the Lord’s Day, which is before Palm Sunday, passing through Ptolemais and the other cities, on that holy and famous Day of Palms, through the gate which looks toward the Mount of Olives, through which also the Lord Jesus, sitting upon a little ass, entered, he himself with his own men and together with certain magnificent legates of the Greeks, who had come up to him [0699D] while he was still in the siege, was admitted. He spent, then, that Holy Week traversing the holy places, in prayer and in the largition of alms and in the confession of sins. And the day of Holy Pascha, in all honor and glory on account of the legates of the king of the Greeks, by order of the lord patriarch, being crowned, he celebrated solemnly and regally.

CAP. VIII. - Qualiter rex Baldewinus Idumaeos mercatores spoliaverit, et quod Tankradus princeps Antiochiae obierit.

CHAPTER 8. - How King Baldwin despoiled Idumaean merchants, and that Tancred, prince of Antioch, died.

Celebratis itaque illic per dies octo sancti Paschae solemniis, assumptis ducentis equitibus, centum vero peditibus, ad vallem Moysi profectus est in partes Arabiae, ut praedarum aliquid abinde contraheret, [0700A] quibus inopes milites et rebus vacuatos ditaret et deficientes animaret. Legati vero regis Graecorum benigne commendati, donisque magnificis ampliati, Constantinopolim remissi sunt. Vix vero partes Arabiae intraverat, et ecce Idumaei, quos moderni vocant Bidumos, viri mercatores cum immensis copiis diversarum mercium in mulis et camelis, inter manus regis et suorum adfuerunt, qui nullatenus effugere valentes, omnibus rebus divitiarum suarum tam in auro quam in argento, gemmis pretiosis, ostro diversi generis et operis, pariterque pigmentis exspoliati sunt, pluresque capti, Jerusalem abducti in custodiam mancipati sunt, praeda vero et spolia eorum inter milites divisa sunt.

Accordingly, the solemnities of holy Pascha having been celebrated there for eight days, and 200 horsemen taken up, indeed 100 footmen as well, he set out to the valley of Moses into the parts of Arabia, that he might collect some plunder from there, [0700A] with which he might enrich the indigent soldiers and those stripped of their goods, and animate the failing. But the envoys of the king of the Greeks, kindly commended and augmented with magnificent gifts, were sent back to Constantinople. Scarcely had he entered the parts of Arabia when, behold, the Idumaeans, whom the moderns call Bedouins, merchant men with immense stores of diverse wares on mules and camels, came into the hands of the king and his men; being by no means able to escape, they were despoiled of all the goods of their wealth, both in gold and in silver, precious gems, purple of diverse kinds and workmanship, and likewise spices; and many, captured, were led off to Jerusalem and delivered into custody; but their booty and spoils were divided among the soldiers.

Eodem anno Tankradus, qui Antiochiae praeerat, vehementi infirmitate [0700B] correptus, in Adventu Domini Jesu Christi morte occubuit, et in basilica B. Petri apostoli catholice sepultus, planctum magnum reliquit, omnibus prope positis mortem ejus audientibus.

In the same year Tancred, who presided over Antioch, seized by a vehement infirmity [0700B], fell in death in the Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ; and, buried with Catholic rites in the basilica of Blessed Peter the Apostle, he left great lamentation, as nearly all who were nearby heard of his death.

CAP. IX. - De adventu Turcorum contra Jerusalem, et quod rex e contrario militiam adunarit.

CHAPTER 9. - On the arrival of the Turks against Jerusalem, and that the king, on the contrary, assembled the soldiery.

Post mortem tam famosi et bellicosi viri Turcorumque undique fortissimi expugnatoris, mense Martio novo vere aspirante, praefatus Malducus, qui et ipse unus de praepotentibus regni Corrozan erat, ascitis fortissimis copiis Turcorum circiter triginta millia, disposuit transire usque ad Damascum, ut assumpto Dochino, qui et ipse Turcus et princeps injuste erat Damascenorum, expugnaret civitates quas rex obtinebat; deinde Jerusalem, si ejus voluntati [0700C] prospere succederet, ad debellandos et expugnandos Christianos perveniret. Divulgata autem tam famosi principis adunatione per regionem civitatis Edessae, nuntii Armenii regi Baldewino diriguntur, qui omnem rem et apparatum illius declarent, quatenus praevisis et suis convocatis, hostibus tutius et facilius ad resistendum occurreret. Rex autem, auditis nuntiorum verbis, illico aptata legatione Antiochiam ad Rotgerum, illustrissimum juvenem et militem, filium sororis Tankradi, qui et loco ejus restitutus principatum obtinebat Antiochiae, direxit, ut sine intermissione ad auxilium ejus venire operam daret in paratu armorum et copiis, sicut decretum fuerat a principio Christianos christianis [0700D] fratribus subvenire.

After the death of so famous and bellicose a man, and conqueror of the Turks on every side, in the month of March, as the new spring was breathing, the aforesaid Malducus, who also was one of the very powerful of the kingdom of Corrozan, having summoned very strong forces of the Turks, about thirty thousand, resolved to pass across as far as Damascus, in order that, having taken up Dochinus, who was himself a Turk and was unjustly the prince of the Damascenes, he might storm the cities which the king held; then to Jerusalem, if it should turn out prosperously to his will [0700C], he might come to debellate and to storm the Christians. But when the mustering of so famous a prince was published through the region of the city of Edessa, Armenian messengers are sent to King Baldwin, to declare all the matter and his apparatus, to the end that, the situation being foreseen and his own men called together, he might meet the enemies more safely and more easily in order to resist. The king, however, when he had heard the words of the messengers, forthwith, a legation made ready, sent to Antioch to Roger, a most illustrious youth and soldier, the son of Tancred’s sister, who also, restored in his place, was holding the principate of Antioch, that without intermission he should give effort to come to his aid with the preparation of arms and forces, just as it had been decreed from the beginning that Christians should succor Christian brothers [0700D].

Rotgertus sine mora, accepta regis legatione, septingentis equitibus, quingentis vero peditibus assumptis, ad ipsum regem venire disposuit; sed aliquantulum propter colligenda arma retardatus est. Turci vero viam Damascum accelerantes, ad mare Galileae castrametati sunt, et praesidium Tabariae obsidentes, hac parte fluminis Jordanis plurimum temporis egerunt, montem Thabor occupantes, et undique Christianorum habitationem delere studentes. Jam enim in calumniis et praedis et aggravatione Christianorum curriculo trium mensium potenter obsederant, omnia vastantes, nulli parcentes, nocte ac die insidiis invigilantes, milites Tabariae crebris assultibus et bello lacessentes.

Rotgertus, without delay, the king’s legation having been received, with seven hundred horsemen and, moreover, five hundred foot-soldiers taken up, resolved to come to the king himself; but he was delayed a little on account of gathering arms. The Turks, however, hastening on the way to Damascus, encamped by the Sea of Galilee, and, besieging the garrison of Tiberias, on this side of the river Jordan spent very much time, occupying Mount Tabor and striving to destroy on every side the habitation of the Christians. For already, with calumnies, plunderings, and the aggravation of the Christians, in the course of three months they had powerfully beleaguered, wasting everything, sparing no one, keeping vigilant watch for ambushes night and day, provoking the soldiers of Tiberias with frequent assaults and warfare.

CAP. X. - De mille quingentis peregrinis Christianorum, propter quos rex attrivit in pugna ducentos Turcorum. [0701A]

CHAPTER 10. - On one thousand five hundred Christian pilgrims, on account of whom the king ground down in battle two hundred of the Turks. [0701A]

His diebus mille quingenti peregrini, qui Paschali solemnitate Jerusalem moram fecerant, reditum parantes, sed per regionem Sur transire metuentes, regem supplici prece convenerunt, quatenus conductum ejus trans Sur habere mererentur, ne ab inhabitatoribus urbis impugnarentur, parum resistere valentes, sicut fessi et plurima inopia gravati. Rex, videns illorum redeundi constantiam, trecentis ascitis militibus, viam cum eis usque ad montana Sur tenuit. Sed in latibulo montium paulisper remoratus, peregrinos praemisit ut sic experiri posset si qua virtus civium Sur ad insecutionem Christianorum [0701B] peregrinorum appareret.

In these days one thousand five hundred pilgrims, who had made a stay at Jerusalem for the Paschal solemnity, preparing their return, but fearing to pass through the region of Sur, approached the king with suppliant prayer, to the end that they might merit to have his safe-conduct across Sur, lest they be assailed by the inhabitants of the city, scarcely able to resist, as they were weary and burdened by very great want. The king, seeing their constancy of returning, with three hundred soldiers enlisted, held the way with them as far as the mountains of Sur. But having tarried a little in a hiding-place of the mountains, he sent the pilgrims ahead, so that he might thus test whether any force of the citizens of Sur would appear for the pursuit of the Christian [0701B] pilgrims.

His vero praemissis, milites civitatis Sur ad quingentos egressi, peregrinos procul ab urbe transeuntes, ad trucidandum et captivandum insecuti sunt multa vociferatione et tubarum strepitu ad perterrendos illos intonantes. Verum rex, audita hac vociferatione, a latibulo et insidiis velociter exsurgens, militibus in tergo adfuit, plurimam caedem exercuit, quousque Sarraceni victi et attriti fugam arripientes, Sur viam remensi non prius portas introierunt quam ducenti ex eis capti et attriti sunt. Peregrini hac sola die via continuata, altera autem die audita Turcorum praesentia cum tot millibus, inito consilio, Ptolemaidem reversi sunt, illic cum rege moram facientes.

But when these had been sent ahead, about five hundred soldiers of the city of Sur went out, and, pursuing the pilgrims passing far from the city, to butcher and to capture, with much vociferation and the blare of trumpets thundering to terrify them. But the king, when this vociferation was heard, swiftly rising from his hiding-place and ambuscade, was upon them in the rear, and wrought very great slaughter, until the Saracens, vanquished and worn down, taking to flight and re-traversing the road to Sur, did not enter the gates before 200 of them were captured and cut down. The pilgrims, with the way continued on this single day; but on the other day, having heard of the presence of the Turks with so many thousands, counsel having been taken, returned to Ptolemais, making a stay there with the king.

CAP. XI. - Rex cum Turcis congrediens, fuga dilabitur, quibusdam suorum in bello cadentibus. [0701C]

CHAPTER 11. - The king, engaging with the Turks, slips away in flight, with certain of his own falling in battle. [0701C]

Rex igitur intelligens Turcorum audaciam nimium aggravasse, longe lateque praedam contraxisse, ab assultu raro quievisse, vehementer indignatus convocat universos qui erant in circuitu Jerusalem et omnium civitatum quas possidebat, et ad septingentos congregans equites, peditum quatuor millia, peregrino exercitui jurat et contestatur non ultra Rotgerum et remotos conchristianos principes praestolari, nec longius pati Turcorum arrogantiam et calumnias. Et statim a Ptolemaide tam novis peregrinis quam caeteris ascitis, trans Jordanem castra figi statuit, ipso natali apostolorum [0701D] Petri et Pauli, eo videlicet in loco, quo hactenus Turcorum per prata amoena et voluptuosa ponebantur tentoria. Turci vero astuti hoc per latores comperto, tentoriis sublatis, in montem Thabor secesserunt, ac si regem metuentes et fugam maturantes, cum eo bellum committere non auderent.

The king, therefore, understanding that the audacity of the Turks had grown excessively burdensome, that they had gathered plunder far and wide, and had seldom rested from assault, being vehemently indignant, convokes all who were in the circuit of Jerusalem and of all the cities which he possessed, and, assembling to about seven hundred knights and four thousand foot-soldiers, he swears and solemnly testifies to the pilgrim army that he will no longer wait for Roger and the far‑off co‑Christian princes, nor any further endure the arrogance and calumnies of the Turks. And immediately, from Ptolemais, with both the new pilgrims and the others taken into service, he determined that the camp be pitched across the Jordan, on the very natal day of the apostles [0701D] Peter and Paul, namely in that place where until now the tents of the Turks were set across pleasant and delightful meadows. But the crafty Turks, this having been learned through messengers, lifted their tents and withdrew to Mount Tabor, as if fearing the king and hastening their flight, not daring to engage battle with him.

Sed vix ponebantur tentoria, et ecce Malducus Dodechinusque cum universo comitatu suorum eruperunt a montanis Thabor, ut arena maris fortiter irruentes arcu et sagitta in castra regis et suorum, gravi bello et vulnere atroci praeliantes et Christianis acies impugnantes, donec rex et tota manus suorum vim tot millium sustinere non valentes, sed fugam ineuntes, ad mille quingentos occiderunt, praeter equites, quorum triginta interempti [0702A] sunt. Cecidit illic Reinerus de Brus, miles imperterritus; Hugo, juvenis nobilis et miles illustris; aliique quorum actus et bella laude et memoria dignissima sunt.

But scarcely were the tents being pitched, and behold, Malducus and Dodechinus with the whole comitatus of their men burst forth from the mountains of Tabor, like the sand of the sea rushing in stoutly, with bow and arrow against the camp of the king and his men, fighting with grievous battle and atrocious wounding, and assailing the battle-lines of the Christians, until the king and the whole band of his, not able to withstand the force of so many thousands and entering upon flight, they killed up to one thousand five hundred, besides the horsemen, of whom thirty were slain [0702A]. There fell there Reinerus de Brus, a fearless soldier; Hugh, a noble youth and an illustrious soldier; and others whose deeds and wars are most worthy of praise and memory.

CAP. XII. - Rex sedecim millibus congregatis, in secundo congressu Turcos a Jordane potenter effugavit.

CHAPTER 12. - The king, with sixteen thousand assembled, in the second engagement powerfully drove the Turks from the Jordan.

Vix itaque rege elapso, et Turcis loca campestria victoriose obtinentibus, altera die Rotgerus, successor et haeres Antiochiae, filius sororis Tankradi, cum quadringentis equitibus et sex centis peditibus adfuit, mire molestatus de regis infortunio et suorum casu, et quia itineris tardatione hesterno praelio ei ad opem esse non potuit. Adfuit et princeps civitatis Tripolis, non minus animo consternatus, quoniam sic a [0702B] Turcis castra regis caesa sunt. Et post pauca adfuerunt plurimae acies Christianorum navigio usque ad Ptolemaidem advectae; quorum ex omni parte tam mari quam terra affluentium sedecim millia in unum collecta sunt.

Scarcely, therefore, had the king escaped, and the Turks were victoriously holding the level fields, when on the next day Roger, successor and heir of Antioch, the son of Tancred’s sister, arrived with four hundred horsemen and six hundred foot-soldiers, wondrously vexed at the king’s misfortune and the fall of his men, and because by the delay of the journey he had not been able to be of aid to him in yesterday’s battle. The prince of the city of Tripoli was present as well, no less dismayed in spirit, since the king’s camp had thus been cut down by the Turks [0702B]. And after a little, very many battle-lines of the Christians were present, conveyed by ship as far as Ptolemais; of these, flowing in from every side both by sea and by land, sixteen thousand were gathered into one.

Rex tot millibus in brevi congregatis, Turcos adhuc trans Jordanem in sua feritate persistentes aggredi statuit ex consilio omnium qui aderant, quatenus in capite eorum, Deo auxiliante, redderet malum, quod sibi suisque et universae regioni inferre conati sunt. Verum Turci audito regis adventu et voluntate, a loco et regione Jordanis recedentes, Romaniam ingressi sunt, regis Graecorum castella et civitates plurimas obsidentes et expugnantes.

The king, with so many thousands gathered in a short time, resolved, by the counsel of all who were present, to attack the Turks, who, still beyond the Jordan, were persisting in their ferocity, in order that, upon their heads, with God helping, he might requite the evil which they had attempted to bring upon himself, his own men, and the whole region. But the Turks, on hearing of the king’s approach and intention, withdrew from the place and the region of the Jordan, entered Romania, and besieged and stormed very many castles and cities of the king of the Greeks.

CAP. XIII. - Quomodo conjux ducis Siciliae ad thalamum regis Baldewini cum magno apparatu properavit. [0702C]

CHAPTER 13. - How the consort of the duke of Sicily hastened to the bridal thalamus of king Baldwin with great apparatus. [0702C]

Rege dehinc cum omni manu sua ab insecutione hostium Ptolemaidem reverso, mense Augusto inchoante, pervenit ad aures regis quomodo nobilissima conjux Rotgeri ducis Siciliae, fratris Boemundi magnifici principis, post obitum et exsequias praefati mariti ad thalamum regis magnopere properaret in apparatu copioso magnarum divitiarum et plurimo militum comitatu. Fuerunt ei duae triremes, singulae cum quingentis viris bello doctissimis, cum navibus septem, auro, argento, ostro, gemmarum vestiumque pretiosarum multitudine onustis; praeter arma, loricas, gladios, galeas et clypeos auro fulgidissimos, et praeter omnem armaturam, quam ad defensionem [0702D] navium solent viri potentissimi comparare. In ipsa denique nave, in qua praedicta matrona manere decreverat, malus auro purissimo tectus, procul radios ad solis claritatem exerebat, et utraque navis cornua auro et argento fabrili opere vestita, spectaculo admirationis omnibus erant ea intuentibus.

With the king then, along with all his band, having returned to Ptolemais from the pursuit of the enemies, at the beginning of the month of August it came to the ears of the king how the most noble spouse of Roger, duke of Sicily, brother of Bohemond the magnificent prince, after the death and exequies of her aforesaid husband, was hastening in great measure to the nuptial chamber of the king, with a copious apparatus of great riches and a very numerous escort of soldiers. She had two triremes, each with five hundred men most skilled in war, together with seven ships laden with gold, silver, purple, a multitude of gems and of precious garments; besides arms, cuirasses, swords, helmets, and shields most gleaming with gold, and besides every armament which the mightiest men are wont to procure for the defense [0702D] of ships. On the very ship in which the aforesaid matron had decided to stay, the mast, covered with most pure gold, from afar was sending forth rays at the brightness of the sun; and both horns of the ship, clothed with gold and silver in crafted work, were a spectacle of admiration to all beholding them.

In una de septem navibus viri Sarraceni et sagittarii, viri fortissimi et claritate pretiosarum vestium fulgentes inerant, dono regi adducti, et qui nullis in regione Jerusalem sagittandi arte inferiores haberentur. Hujus itaque matronae adventu et gloria audita, rex tres naves, quas vocant galeidas fetas viris egregiis et marino certamine peritissimis, misit illi in occursum; sed ventorum turbine mari intumescente, nequaquam illi occurrere aut sociari [0703A] potuerunt. Ventorum enim potentia naves longe jactatae, tandem portu sinuque Ascalonis vespere sunt receptae circa horam nonam, nequaquam nautis valentibus aut frustra conantibus iter per aquas tenere, propter ventum qui eis nimium contrarius repugnabat.

In one of the seven ships there were Saracen men and archers, most brave men and gleaming with the brilliance of precious garments, brought as a gift to the king, and who in the region of Jerusalem would be considered inferior to none in the art of archery. Therefore, when the advent and glory of this matron were heard, the king sent to meet her three ships which they call galeides, teeming with outstanding men and most skilled in maritime combat; but as the sea swelled with a whirlwind of winds, by no means were they able to meet or to be joined with her [0703A] they could. For by the power of the winds the ships, tossed far, were at length received into the harbor and bay of Ascalon toward evening, about the ninth hour, the sailors being by no means able, or trying in vain, to hold their course through the waters, because the wind, too contrary to them, was resisting.

CAP. XIV. - Cum quali gloria rex eamdem matronam sibi copulaverit, militibus ab ea largiter remuneratis.

CHAPTER 14. - With what glory the king joined that same matron to himself, the soldiers having been generously remunerated by her.

Ascalonitae, viris Christianis semper infesti, mox Christianorum signis recognitis, in galeidis ferratis et armis occurrere et confligere cum eis accelerant. Sed, post plurimam contentionem, et utrinque saepius factam incursionem, una ex galeidis Ascalonitarum, quinquaginta milites continens attrita et submersa [0703B] est, caeterae expugnatae et repulsae sunt. Nec mora, Christiani ex omni parte praevalentes in victoria, et in unum coadunati, Deo prosperante, tranquillo ventorum flamine relato, et omni furore maris sedato, in virtute magna a portu et statione Ascalonis sunt egressi; sicque pacifico navigio Ptolemaidem perventum est.

The Ascalonites, ever hostile to Christian men, soon, when the standards of the Christians had been recognized, hasten to run to meet them and to engage with them in iron-plated galleys and with arms. But, after very great contention and incursions made repeatedly on both sides, one of the Ascalonites’ galleys, containing fifty soldiers, was worn down and sunk [0703B], the rest were stormed and driven back. No delay: the Christians, prevailing on every side in victory and coadunated into one, God prospering, with a tranquil breath of winds borne and all the fury of the sea assuaged, in great force went out from the port and anchorage of Ascalon; and thus by a peaceful voyage Ptolemais was reached.

Nec mora, rex adventu tam gloriosae matronae cognito, cum omnibus primoribus regni sui et universis pueris domus suae, in vestitu diversi generis et pulchritudinis, in regio cultu, in equis et mulis, ostro et argento fulgentibus, in tubis et in omni dulcedine musicorum e navi egredienti adfuit. Sed et plateae mirificis et variis tapetibus stratae, vici purpureis velis adornati in honorem tam nobilissimae, et thesauris famosissimae matronae, rutilabant, [0703C] sicut decet reges in omni gloria et pompa exaltari. Cum hac itaque jucunditate et laude ea inducta, et regi stabili connubio copulata, nuptiarum magnus apparatus ornatusque factus est in regio palatio civitatis per dies aliquot; thesauri plurimi ab ea in aerarium regis translati, quibus multum rex et universi, qui bellis Turcorum arma amiserant, nunc maestimabiliter relevati et ditati sunt.

Without delay, the king, once he learned of the arrival of so glorious a matron, was present, with all the foremost of his realm and all the youths of his household, in garments of diverse kind and beauty, in royal array, on horses and mules gleaming with purple and silver, with trumpets and with every sweetness of musicians, to meet her as she disembarked from the ship. And the squares were laid with wondrous and various tapestries, the streets adorned with purple awnings in honor of so most noble and treasure-famous a matron, and they were glowing, [0703C] as it befits kings to be exalted in all glory and pomp. With this gladness and praise, therefore, she was led in and was joined to the king in a stable wedlock, and a great apparatus and adornment of the nuptials was made in the royal palace of the city for several days; very many treasures by her were transferred into the king’s treasury, by which the king and all who had lost their arms in the wars of the Turks were now, to their great relief, relieved and enriched.

His jam nuptiis finitis, et rege Jerusalem cum sponsa sua ascendere disponente, Rotgerus in Antiochiam, benigne a rege commendatus, viam insistere disposuit, cui nova regina mille marcas argenti cum ostris pretiosis, cum byzantiis quingentis, cum mulis et equis egregiis dono contulit, praeter gregarios milites, qui a longinquo regi ad opem confluxerunt, [0703D] quibus non modica praemia auri et argenti pariter collata sunt.

These nuptials now finished, and the king of Jerusalem, with his bride, proposing to go up, Roger, kindly commended by the king, resolved to take the road to Antioch; to whom the new queen bestowed as a gift a thousand marks of silver, together with precious purple-dyed cloths, with five hundred bezants, with excellent mules and horses, besides the rank-and-file soldiers who from afar had flocked to the king for aid, [0703D] upon whom not small rewards of gold and silver were likewise conferred.

CAP. XV. - Ubi post reditum Christianorum Turci, devastantes terram Graecorum, urbem Stamiriam subverterunt.

CHAPTER 15. - Where after the return of the Christians the Turks, devastating the land of the Greeks, overthrew the city of Stamiria.

Sic quibusdam ad sua redire ferventibus, quidam viam per Romaniam in arido insistentes, civitatem Stamiriam applicuerunt, qui a Graecis, viris Christianis, in omni administratione necessariorum clementer hospitio suscepti sunt. Nec mora, Turci, qui a rege ex Galilaea fugati, civitates et municipia regis Graecorum expugnata et attrita, praeda et spoliis in nihilum redegerant, ejusdem civitatis moenia aggressi, obsidionem in circuitu locaverunt, plurimam vim, minas et terrores civibus inferentes. Hinc [0704A] non post multoz dies, et post terribiles assultus, magistram portam urbis in virtute nimia assilientes, militibus Graecorum, viris effeminatis parum resistentibus, in securi et ascia januam comminuentes, defensoribus tandem fessis, unanimiter irruperunt; et in universos tam cives quam peregrinos sagitta et arcu irruentes, non modicam caedem operati plurimos abduxerunt, universaque pecunia et quae ibi pretiosa reperta sunt, ab his saevis praedonibus transportata sunt.

Thus, while certain men were burning to return to their own, some, keeping to the road through Romania by land, made their way to the city of Stamiria, and were kindly received in hospitality by the Greeks, Christian men, with every administration of necessities. Without delay, the Turks, who, routed by the king from Galilee, had captured and worn down the cities and municipalities of the king of the Greeks and, by plunder and spoil, had reduced them to nothing, assailed the walls of that same city, set a siege all around, and brought very great force, threats, and terrors upon the citizens. Hence [0704A] not many days later, and after terrible assaults, rushing upon the main gate of the city with excessive might, the soldiers of the Greeks—effeminate men—offering little resistance, and shattering the door with axe and adze, with the defenders at length exhausted, they burst in with one accord; and, assailing with bow and arrow all alike, both citizens and pilgrims, having wrought no small slaughter, they led many away, and all the money and whatever valuables were found there were carried off by these savage brigands.

In eadem vero civitate quidam de exercitu Christianorum hospitalitatis gratia moram facientes, ad quadraginta capti et decollati sunt; sed non sine plurima sui sanguinis ultione, quia inaestimabili virtute et bello a porta, ad quam defendendam locati erant, multis Turcis repulsis et occisis, [0704B] invicti perstiterunt, quousque ad portam quam Graeci tuebantur adversarii immissi sunt.

In that same city indeed certain men of the army of the Christians, lingering for the sake of hospitality, up to forty were captured and beheaded; but not without very great vengeance of their own blood, because with inestimable virtue and in battle, at the gate which they had been posted to defend, with many Turks repulsed and slain, [0704B] they stood unconquered, until the adversaries were admitted at the gate which the Greeks were guarding.

CAP. XVI. - De septem millibus Christianorum, qui mare transeuntes, omnes navigio perierunt.

CHAPTER 16. - On seven thousand Christians, who, crossing the sea, all perished in the ship.

Quidam autem circiter septem millia, reditum per viam maris continuantes, et prosperis velis ac sine turbine navigantes, in festo S. Martini ad portum et stationem insulae Cypri applicuerunt, anchoras suas in profundum jacientes, et in aridum ab ipsis navibus descendere festinantes. Nec mora, ventus fortis ac vehemens, qualis per annos plurimos non est auditus a nautis, mari incubuit, motum et fervorem intolerabilem reddidit, naves quassavit, funes navium suo impetu attrivit, anchoras a profundo sustulit, procellas sic contra naves ampliavit, ut [0704C] navis in navem discurrens sine remige mutuam dissolutionem pateretur, et sic tota illa congregatio Christianorum cum universa suppellectile misera submersione absorberetur. Nulli evaserunt praeter duas buzas, quae de numero tredecim navium erant.

But certain men, about seven thousand, continuing their return by the way of the sea, and with prosperous sails and sailing without tempest, on the feast of St. Martin put in to the port and station of the island of Cyprus, casting their anchors into the deep, and hastening to disembark from the ships themselves onto dry land. No delay: a strong and vehement wind, such as for very many years had not been heard by sailors, settled upon the sea, made it produce an intolerable motion and seething, shook the ships, abraded the ships’ ropes by its assault, lifted the anchors from the deep, and so amplified the storms against the ships that [0704C] ship, running into ship without a rower, suffered mutual dissolution; and thus that whole congregation of Christians, with all their equipment, was swallowed up by a wretched submersion. None escaped except two busses, which were of the number of thirteen ships.

Crastina autem, mari a feritate sua sedato, tot millia corporum nobilium et ignobilium crebra illius inundatione in aridum sunt ejecta, ut vix trium hebdomadarum curriculo sepultura per camporum planitiem illic a fidelibus conderentur.

But on the next day, with the sea calmed from its ferocity, so many thousands of bodies, noble and ignoble, were ejected onto the dry land by its repeated inundation, that scarcely within the course of three weeks could sepulture there be furnished by the faithful across the level expanse of the fields.

CAP. XVII. - Quod milites Baldewini regis navali praelio contra Babylonios gloriose decertaverint.

CHAPTER 17. - That the soldiers of King Baldwin contended gloriously in a naval battle against the Babylonians.

In anno secundo post nuptias regis Baldewini, exercitus regis Babyloniae copiosus navali adventu [0704D] usque Sur allapsus est in Assumptione B. Mariae. Ubi insidias Christianorum alii molientes, alii rerum mercationem facientes, post tertium diem Nativitatis ipsius Virginis jam mora facta, reditum paraverunt. Ptolemaidi vero appropiantes, ordinaverunt navales acies, omni armatura adversus Christianorum vires munitas: quarum duae majoris virtutis et multitudinis post tergum custodiam agentes, sed nimium rebus et hominibus occupatae, a longe plus milliari subsecutae sunt.

In the second year after the marriage of King Baldwin, a copious army of the king of Babylonia, by a naval arrival [0704D] glided as far as Tyre on the Assumption of the Blessed Mary. There, some contriving ambushes against the Christians, others conducting the merchandising of goods, after the third day of the Nativity of the Virgin herself, delay now having been made, they prepared a return. But as they were approaching Ptolemais, they arrayed naval battle-lines, furnished with every armament against the forces of the Christians; of which two, of greater prowess and multitude, acting as guard at the rear, but overly burdened with goods and men, followed from afar by more than a mile.

Cives vero et regis milites Ptolemaide, qui solito more quotidie per moenia diffusi erant, intuentes vela et malos gentilium Babyloniam remigantium, statim loricis et galeis induti, tribusque galeidis circiter quadringenti invecti, undis inferuntur ut naves subsequentes aliqua bellica [0705A] arte vexatas captivarent. Navis vero ex duabus, quae nimis onusta erat armis et populis, effugere minime valens, plurima defensione armorum coepit resistere ab hora diei nona usque ad vesperam: Sed tandem post nimiam caedem utrinque illatam coepit viribus deficere, captaque usque ad portum civitatis Caiphas perducta est. Apud Caiphas quidam Sarraceni capti et vulnerati, custodiae mancipati relinquuntur; incolumes vero usque Ptolemaidem cum sua nave capta transmissi sunt cum pariter vulneratis Christianis quibusdam.

But the citizens and the king’s soldiers at Ptolemais, who by their accustomed habit were daily spread along the walls, seeing the sails and masts of the gentiles rowing toward Babylonia, immediately, clad in cuirasses and helmets, and, about four hundred conveyed by three galleys, launch themselves upon the waves so that they might capture the ships following behind, harried by some warlike [0705A] art. Now one ship out of the two, which was too laden with arms and peoples, being in no way able to flee, began to resist with a very great defense of arms from the ninth hour of the day until evening: but at length, after excessive slaughter inflicted on both sides, it began to fail in strength, and, taken, was led as far as the harbor of the city of Caiphas. At Caiphas certain Saracens, captured and wounded, are left, consigned to custody; but the unharmed were sent on to Ptolemais with their captured ship, together with certain Christians likewise wounded.

Sed vulneratis Christianis a tribus galeidis expositis, caeteri adhuc incolumes Christiani, aliis assumptis secum sociis in duabus galeidis, navem, quae amplius rebus, militibus et armis onerata et impedita, tardior ibat, insecuti, [0705B] jam quinque galeidis valide assilientes cinxerunt. His econtra non minus valide se defendentibus, ac omni genere armorum sagittarumque jaculatione viriliter pro anima pugnantibus, postremo post nimium bellicum laborem a mane usque ad medium diem utrinque gravatis, fere gentilium navis, quae dicitur cattus, ab eorum manibus defensa et elapsa est. Quod viri et milites Ptolemaide a moenibus speculantes, et Christianorum galeidas defecisse, consilio facto, ducentos ad subveniendum illis mittere constituerunt.

But when the wounded Christians had been put ashore from the three galleys, the rest of the Christians still unhurt, having taken other comrades with them in two galleys, pursued the ship which, being more laden and impeded with goods, soldiers, and arms, was going slower, [0705B] and already, strongly leaping aboard with five galleys, they encircled it. These, on the contrary, defending themselves no less stoutly, and with every kind of arms and with the jaculation of arrows fighting manfully for their life, at length, after excessive bellic labor from morning until midday, with both sides wearied, the pagans’ ship, which is called a “cattus,” was in fact kept from their hands and slipped away. Which, the men and soldiers in Ptolemais watching from the walls, and perceiving that the Christians’ galleys had flagged, counsel having been taken, they resolved to send two hundred to bring succor to them.

Et sic navis undique crebro assultu illarum sine intermissione fatigata ac superata, vespere Ptolemaidem vi perducta est. De Sur, quae Tyrus dicitur, duae galeidae illis in auxilium processerant; sed videntes Gallorum constantiam et suorum [0705C] defectionem, fugiendo in sua reversae sunt. Erant hac in nave mille viri pugnatores fortissimi, quos tota nocte ex jussu regis ad custodiendum cives multis vigiliis et armis obsederunt; et res eorum innumerabiles militibus divisae sunt.

And so the ship, on all sides wearied and overmastered by their frequent assault without intermission, was by force brought to Ptolemais in the evening. From Sur, which is called Tyre, two galleys had advanced to their aid; but seeing the constancy of the Gauls and the defection of their own [0705C], they turned back to their own in flight. There were on this ship a thousand men, most valiant fighters, whom, by the king’s order, through the whole night they surrounded with many watches and arms to guard the citizens; and their innumerable goods were divided among the soldiers.

Ex Sarracenis alii decollati, alii innumerabili pretio redempti et laxati sunt.

Of the Saracens, some were decollated, others were ransomed for an innumerable price and released.

CAP. XVIII. - Quomodo princeps Damascenorum fraude occiderit alium principem Turcorum.

CHAPTER 18. - How the prince of the Damascenes by fraud slew another prince of the Turks.

Post haec anno sequenti praefatus Malducus, unus de praepotentibus Turcorum, post plurimam stragem et caedem Christianorum a partibus Romaniae in Damascum rediens, apud Turcos et omnes gentiles nomine et fama exaltatus est, eo quod prae omnibus ampliorem tyrannidem in fideles Christi exercuisset. [0705D] Unde Dochinus, princeps Damascenorum, gravi invidia et indignatione tactus, omni versutia qua novit interitum illius moliebatur; sed tamen occulte, ne odium suorum incurreret, a quibus idem Malducus propter nimiam dationem suam et militiae strenuitatem valde charus habebatur. Quapropter, dum saepe circa mortem illius dolosa machinatione satageret, nec inter plurimas versutias locus hunc perimendi daretur, tandem hanc suae fraudis reperit viam, qua virum mortificaret, nomenque ejus deleret.

After these things, in the following year the aforesaid Malducus, one of the very powerful among the Turks, after very great havoc and slaughter of Christians, returning to Damascus from the parts of Romania, was exalted in name and fame among the Turks and all the gentiles, because above all he had exercised a more ample tyranny upon the faithful of Christ. [0705D] Wherefore Dochinus, princeps of the Damascenes, touched by grave envy and indignation, was contriving his destruction with every versutia that he knew; yet nevertheless covertly, lest he incur the hatred of his own, by whom that same Malducus, on account of his excessive largess and the strenuousness of his soldiery, was held very dear. Wherefore, while he often strove for that man’s death by treacherous machination, and among his many stratagems no occasion was given to dispatch him, at length he discovered this way for his fraud, by which he might kill the man and efface his name.

Quatuor enim milites ex genere Azopart donis ac magnificis promissis convenit, quatenus clam eum in armis furtivis in die solemni in secreto oratorii sui, dum in caeremoniis ritus gentilis [0706A] intentus haberetur, subito transfoderent; et sic ab eo dona recipere mererentur. Immissi igitur clam oratorio Malducum intrantem et caeremoniis secure insistentem repentino impetn invaserunt: quem acutissimo ferro pariter trans praecordia figentes, haec prorsus ignorantem exstinxerunt, fugaque elapsi sunt. Dochinus hujus perfidiae et homicidii conscius, licet tum dissimularit, dum a suis rem actam comperisset, fictis lacrymis et planctu maximo sine cordis affectione de morte tam magnifici principis coepit conqueri, et mortis illius auctores, usquequaque persequi jussit et investigare.

For he engaged four soldiers of the Azopart race with gifts and magnificent promises, to the end that they might secretly, with concealed arms, on a solemn day, in the secret of his oratory, while he was being held intent upon the ceremonies of the gentile rite [0706A], suddenly stab him through; and thus they might merit to receive gifts from him. Therefore, having been let in secretly to the oratory, they rushed upon Malducus as he entered and, securely insisting on the ceremonies, with a sudden assault they attacked him: and, together fixing him through the vitals with a most sharp blade, utterly ignorant of this, they extinguished him and escaped by flight. Dochinus, conscious of this perfidy and homicide, although he then dissembled, when he had learned the deed from his own men, with feigned tears and the greatest lamentation, without any affection of heart, began to bewail the death of so magnificent a prince, and he ordered the authors of that death to be pursued everywhere and investigated.

Sed fraus illius post modicum apud Turcos coepit propalari; et ex eo die in odia et inimicitias illorum incidit, multas insidias [0706B] pro sua perfidia prorsus inexcusabili perpessus.

But his fraud after a short while began to be made public among the Turks; and from that day he fell into their hatreds and enmities, having endured many ambushes [0706B] on account of his altogether inexcusable perfidy.

CAP. XIX. - De copioso apparatu gentilium versus Antiochiam, quem Baldewinus rex disperdidit per suam militiam.

CHAPTER 19. - On the copious apparatus of the gentiles toward Antioch, which King Baldwin dispersed through his soldiery.

In anno secundo post necem Malduci Burgoldus de regno Corrozan egressus, Brodoan rex Alapiae, et Cocosander de civitate Lagabria, cum quadraginta millibus Turcorum in terram Antiochiae cum apparatu magno et intolerabili armatura profecti sunt, tentoria sua locantes in campestribus civitatum Rossa, Royda et Femie, quarum suburbia tormentis lapidum atterentes et expugnantes, Femie vero nullatenus nocere valentes, totam regionem inibi praeda et igne depopulati sunt. Tommosam, Turgulant, Montfargiamque [0706C] civitates in virtute magna et manu robusta expugnantes, Willhelmum principem Christianum de Perce, horumque praesidiorum praesidem, captum et vinctum abduxerunt; caeteros in eis repertos alios capitali sententia peremerunt, alios captivatos tenuerunt. His in regionibus diebus hebdomadarum undecim consedisse perhibentur.

In the second year after the slaying of Malducus, Burgoldus, having set out from the kingdom of Corrozan, Brodoan, king of Alapia, and Cocosander of the city of Lagabria, with 40,000 Turks, departed into the land of Antioch with great apparatus and an intolerable armature, pitching their tents in the plains of the cities Rossa, Royda, and Femia; battering and storming the suburbs with stone‑throwing engines, and yet in no way able to harm Femia, they laid waste the whole region there with plunder and fire. Storming the cities Tommosa, Turgulan, and Montfargia [0706C] with great prowess and a robust hand, they led away William, the Christian prince of Perce, the governor of these garrisons, captured and bound; the rest found in them, some they destroyed by capital sentence, others they held captive. They are reported to have sat encamped in these regions for 11 weeks.

Rex vero Baldewinus Jerusalem tunc moram faciebat. Qui invitatus ad auxilium militum Christi, cum quingentis equitibus et mille peditibus, et cum eo princeps Damasci Dochinus, nunc ipsi regi fide alligatus, in plurimo equitatu versus Antiochiam iter accelerant. Punctus, filius Bertranni de Tripla, quae est Tripolis, adfuit in eodem comitatu cum ducentis equitibus et duobus millibus peditum [0706D] usque ad civitatem Taramriam regia via profectus.

King Baldwin, however, was then staying at Jerusalem. He, invited to the aid of the soldiers of Christ, with 500 horsemen and 1,000 foot-soldiers, and with him Dochinus, prince of Damascus, now bound by fealty to the king himself, with a very large cavalry force, hasten their march toward Antioch. Punctus, son of Bertrannus of Tripla, which is Tripolis, was present in the same company with 200 horsemen and 2,000 foot-soldiers [0706D], having set out by the royal road as far as the city of Taramria.

Ubi Rotgerus de Antiochia et Baldevinus de Rohas cum decem millibus equitum et peditum illis occurentes, et hac in terra octo diebus moram facientes castrametati sunt. Turci regis audita praesentia et suorum copiis, versus civitatem Malatinam in montana fugam constituerunt; quia cum eo confligere diffidebant. Rex igitur, comperto recessu Turcorum, redire cum suis disponens, uxorem Tankradi, quae filia erat regis Franciae, secum duxit, quae ex regis consilio eidem Puncto copulata est, nuptiis gloriose et in omni plenitudine ac pinguedine celebratis Triplae, quae sibi haereditario jure a parentibus relicta est.

Where Roger of Antioch and Baldwin of Rohas, meeting them with 10 thousand horsemen and footmen, and making a stay in this land for 8 days, pitched camp. The Turks, upon hearing of the king’s presence and of the forces with him, determined on flight into the mountains toward the city of Malatina; for they distrusted to engage with him. Therefore the king, having learned of the withdrawal of the Turks and arranging to return with his men, took with him Tancred’s wife, who was the daughter of the king of France; and by the king’s counsel she was coupled to that same Pons, the weddings having been celebrated gloriously and in all fullness and richness at Tripoli, which had been left to him by hereditary right from his parents.

CAP. XX. - Ubi Baldewino rege redeunte Hierosolymam, Turci readunatis viribus funduntur. [0707A]

CHAPTER 20. - Where, as King Baldwin was returning to Jerusalem, the Turks, with their forces reassembled, are routed. [0707A]

Post reversionem regis, Turci sine mora ad Gastum. Harech et Synar, civitates Gallorum in fortitudine sua reversi sunt, terram invadentes omniaque illic reperta non parce depopulantes. Rotgerus et Baldewinus hoc audientes, plurimum de reditu regis turbati sunt, eo quod procul jam abiens revocari non posset.

After the king’s return, the Turks without delay to Gastum; Harech and Synar, cities of the Gauls (Franks), they returned in their own strength, invading the land and not sparingly depopulating everything found there. Roger and Baldwin, hearing this, were greatly disturbed on account of the king’s return, for, as he was already going far away, he could not be recalled.

Et ideo consilio habito, ne ei nuntios in vanum dirigerent, suos tantum ad quindecim millia collegerunt ex omni genere tam Francorum quam Armeniorum. Erant autem Turci in tres divisi societates super fluvium Farfar, qui inter duas civitates, Caesaream Stratonis et Femiam, facit alveum. Primo denique diluculo in die Exaltationis [0707B] sanctae crucis, Rotgerus et Baldewinus factis aciebus ipsos Turcos aggressi sunt: ubi, praelio commisso, quindecim millia Turcorum ceciderunt, pauci Christianorum occubuisse reperti sunt.

And therefore, counsel having been taken, lest they send messengers to him in vain, they gathered only their own to fifteen thousand, of every sort, both Franks and Armenians. Now the Turks were divided into three companies upon the river Farfar, which between the two cities, Caesarea of Strato and Femia, forms its channel. Then at first light on the day of the Exaltation [0707B] of the Holy Cross, Rotgerus and Baldewinus, the battle-lines having been formed, attacked the Turks themselves: where, the battle having been joined, fifteen thousand Turks fell; few of the Christians were found to have perished.

Primo exercitu sic attrito, Rotgerus ad alterum dum tenderet vociferatione magna, universi hostes metu attoniti, fugam ineunt ad vada praedicti fluminis, et undis involuti et suffocati perierunt. Tertius dehinc exercitus hac catholicorum victoria stupefactus, dum viarum errore diffugium faceret, forte applicaverunt in regione Camollae, in valle quadam juxta castrum Malbech. Ubi Dochinus cum octo millibus occurrens graviter cum eis praeliatus est, tribus millibus illorum occisis, et mille abductis captivis.

With the first army thus worn down, as Rotger was pressing toward the second with a great outcry, all the enemies, thunderstruck with fear, take to flight to the fords of the aforesaid river, and, enveloped by the waves and suffocated, perished. Thereafter the third army, stupefied by this victory of the Catholics, while it was making its escape by an error of the ways, happened by chance to come into the region of Camolla, in a certain valley near the castle Malbech. There Dochinus, meeting them with eight thousand, fought a hard battle with them, three thousand of them having been slain, and one thousand led away as captives.

Erant enim [0707C] inter hos Turcos fugitivos multi de progenie et sanguine Malduci, qui plurimum sibi saepe adversabantur, de ejus perfidia et nece iniqua, ut propinqui illorum, in terra Corrozan apud majores et minores querimoniam facientes, et de nece propinqui ultionem exsequentes. Hac de causa Dochinus semper sollicitus et suspectus, nunc regi Baldewino et fidelibus Christianis foederatus integrius adhaerebat; Turcis usquequaque nocere non desistebat.

For [0707C] among these fugitive Turks there were many of the progeny and blood of Malduc, who very often strongly opposed him, on account of his perfidy and iniquitous slaying; as their kinsmen, making complaint in the land of Corrozan among both the greater and the lesser, and executing vengeance for the slaying of their relative. For this cause Dochinus, always anxious and suspicious, now, allied to King Baldwin and the faithful Christians, adhered more integrally; he did not cease to harm the Turks everywhere.

CAP. XXI. - Quod Baldewinus rex cum manu parva profectus sit in montem Sina.

CHAPTER 21. - That King Baldwin set out with a small band to Mount Sinai.

In anno tertio postquam rex Baldewinus nuptias supra dictas regaliter celebravit, tempore autumni ducentis equitibus et quadringentis assumptis peditibus, profectus est ad montem Oreb, qui vulgo [0707D] appellatur Orel, ubi praesidium novum curriculo dierum decem et octo firmavit, ut sic potentius terram Arabum expugnaret, et non ultra mercatoribus transitus hinc et hinc daretur, nisi ex regis gratia et licentia; vel ullae insidiae aut vires inimicorum subito adessent, quin fidelibus regis in arce constitutis paterent: et sic ei regia arx impedimento esset. Sic hujus praesidii munimine undique firmato ad resistendum inimicis, rex, ut novarum rerum semper erat avidus, sexaginta equitibus illustribus secreto convocatis, viam suam aperuit versus regnum Babyloniae, si forte in captione Sarracenorum et Idumaeorum, aut invasione civitatum aliquid insigne agere valeret. Etiam deserta loca vastae solitudinis exsuperans, in abundantia escarum, quae [0708A] mulorum tergo ferebantur, ad mare Rubrum venisse perhibetur, in quo ipse et sui a caloribus, qui in terra hac gravissimi sunt, balneando recreati sunt, ac piscibus hujus maris refocillati.

In the third year after King Baldwin royally celebrated the aforesaid nuptials, in the time of autumn, with two hundred horsemen and four hundred footsoldiers taken up, he set out to Mount Horeb, which commonly [0707D] is called Orel, where he made firm a new garrison in the course of eighteen days, so that he might more powerfully subdue the land of the Arabs, and that passage to and fro should no longer be given to merchants, unless by the king’s favor and license; or, should any ambushes or forces of enemies be suddenly at hand, that they would lie open to the king’s faithful stationed in the citadel: and thus the royal citadel would be an impediment to them. Thus, with the bulwark of this garrison made strong on all sides for resisting enemies, the king—since he was always eager for new things—having secretly summoned sixty distinguished knights, opened his way toward the kingdom of Babylonia, if perchance in the capture of Saracens and Idumaeans, or in the invasion of cities, he might be able to do something notable. Even overpassing the desert places of a vast solitude, with an abundance of provisions which [0708A] were borne on the backs of mules, he is reported to have come to the Red Sea, in which he and his men, from the heats—which in this land are most severe—were refreshed by bathing, and were revived by the fishes of this sea.

Ibi in monte Sina monachos Deo servientes audiens commorari, ad eos per devexa montis causa orationis et allocutionis accelerare decrevit. Sed rogatus eorum nuntiis ad se praemissis, minime ascendit, ne scilicet monachi suspecti propter catholicum regem a gentilibus de montis habitatione pellerentur. Abhinc enim usque ad Babyloniam civitatem intra cuatuor dies veniri posse referebatur.

There, hearing that on Mount Sinai monks serving God were dwelling, he resolved to hasten to them along the declivities of the mountain for the sake of prayer and allocution. But, when entreated by their messengers sent on ahead to him, he did not ascend at all, lest the monks, being suspected on account of the Catholic king, should be driven by the pagans from their habitation on the mountain. For from there it was reported that one could reach the city of Babylon within four days.

CAP. XXII. - Rex Baldewinus suorum monitionibus a monte Sina revertitur Jerusalem providus.

CHAPTER 22. - King Baldwin, at the admonitions of his men, returns from Mount Sinai to Jerusalem, prudent.

Verum, quia sibi vires erant exiguae, cum quibus [0708B] usque per loca solitudinis in silentio descenderat; et quia nunc coepit propter moras aliquas plene adventus ejus propalari, datum est ei ab amicis consilium ut nequaquam ulterius viam perageret; sed quantocius Jerusalem in silentio securus repedaret. Si enim introitus aut exitus ipsius regis innotuisset, supra centum millia cujusque generis gentiles et in occursum confluentes in armis undique vias occupassent. Nunc vero suorum consiliis acquiescens et a terra egrediens in cautela qua noverat, per vallem Hebron et praesidium S. Abrahae redire disposuit.

But, because his forces were meager, with which [0708B] he had descended all the way through places of solitude in silence; and because now, on account of certain delays, his advent began to be fully divulged, counsel was given him by friends that he should by no means pursue the road further, but that as quickly as possible he should, securely and in silence, retrace his steps to Jerusalem. For if the entrance or exit of the king himself had become known, more than one hundred thousand Gentiles of every kind, converging to meet him in arms, would have occupied the roads from every side. Now indeed, acquiescing in the counsels of his own and going out from the land with the caution which he knew, he resolved to return by the valley of Hebron and the stronghold of S. Abraham.

Ubi cum suis pernoctans, corpora fessa cibariis terrae illius copiose refecit. Dehinc viam quae ducit Ascalenem insistens, universam praedam, quae per campestria Ascalonis vagabatur, in pascuis contraxit camelos [0708C] ducentos, armenta boum plurima, greges ovium caprarumque: cum quibus potenter et sine persecutione Jerusalem reversus est,

There, spending the night with his own, he copiously refreshed their wearied bodies with the victuals of that land. Thence, taking the road which leads to Ascalon, he drew together into the pastures all the booty which was wandering through the plains of Ascalon—two hundred camels [0708C], very many herds of oxen, flocks of sheep and goats: with which he returned to Jerusalem in force and without pursuit,

CAP. XXIII. - Quomodo rex Baldewinus Ptolemaide aggravatus, per multas eleemosynas de infirmitate sit alleviatus.

CHAPTER 23. - How King Baldwin, afflicted at Ptolemais, was alleviated of his infirmity through many alms.

Post dies aliquot Ptolemaidem descendens, mense Martio inchoante graviter coepit aegrotare, et de die in diem corporis molestia aggravari. Quare thesauros, quos habuit in vasis aureis et argenteis multisque millibus byzantiorum, pauperibus jussit partim erogari pro peccatis suis et animae suae salute; vinum, frumentum, oleum et hordeum, quod habehat in Jerusalem et aliis in locis plurimis, item pauperibus [0708D] et orphanis et viduis sine dilatione jussit distribui, vitae suae nimium incertus. Domui quidem suae partem contulit; militibus quoque domesticis et advenis, et cunctis, qui sibi in auxilio militari servierant in conventione solidorum, byzantios, aurum, argentum et ostra plurima largitus est.

After several days, going down to Ptolemais, with the month of March beginning he began to be gravely sick, and from day to day to be weighed down more by bodily affliction. Wherefore the treasures which he had in gold and silver vessels and in many thousands of byzants, he ordered in part to be disbursed to the poor for his sins and for the salvation of his soul; the wine, grain, oil, and barley which he had in Jerusalem and in very many other places, likewise he ordered to be distributed without delay to the poor [0708D] and to orphans and widows, being exceedingly uncertain of his life. To his own household indeed he assigned a portion; to his household soldiers also and to newcomers, and to all who had served him with military aid under a covenant of solidi, he lavished byzants, gold, silver, and very many purple-dyed cloths.

Omnia debita sua persolvi praecepit, et constanter admonuit ne animae suae essent impedimento. Sed, Deo volente, qui omnibus poenitentibus dat vitam et mortem transfert, huic jam nullam spem vivendi habenti, precibus et lacrymis pupillorum et viduarum sanitas redditur, et corporis sui debilitate alleviata, ex toto athleta Christi convaluit. Jam enim antea tam valida illius aegritudine divulgata, navales exercitus Babyloniorum, qui Sur applicuerant, ut [0709A] in ipsius regis morte civitates Christianorum oppugnarent, nunc illius salute et sanitatis reparatione audita, sine aliqua mora viam aquarum in regionem suam remensi, absque ullius contradictione discesserunt.

He ordered all his debts to be paid, and steadfastly admonished that they should not be an impediment to his soul. But, God willing, who gives life to all penitents and transfers death, to this man now having no hope of living, by the prayers and tears of orphans and widows health is restored; and, the debility of his body alleviated, the athlete of Christ recovered entirely. For already before, his illness, so severe, having been spread abroad, the naval armies of the Babylonians, who had put in at Sur, so that [0709A] upon the death of the king himself they might attack the cities of the Christians, now, with his salvation and the reparation of his health having been heard, without any delay re-crossed the way of the waters to their own region, and departed without anyone’s contradiction.

CAP. XXIV. - Qualiter eumdem regem patriarcha corripuerit, et quod ipsas illicitas nuptias repudiaverit.

CHAPTER 24. - How the patriarch rebuked that same king, and that he repudiated those very illicit nuptials.

Dehinc rege a languore suo relevato, Arnolfus cancellarius sepulcri Dominici, nunc antistite Gobelino mortuo, patriarcha electus et constitutus est. Deinde Romam profectus, a Paschali pontifice Romano benigne commendatus, et reversus, et de omnibus objectis excusatus, dominum regem ex admonitione et jussione ipsius apostolici coepit [0709B] arguere et monere, ut praedictam matronam, quam duxit uxorem, a thalamo suo amoveret propter adulterium, quo in prima conjuge, orta de principibus Armeniae, peccavit, eo quod legitimas nuptias adulterinis illius foedavit connubiis. Interdixit etiam illi hac de causa quod consanguinitatis ejusdem matronae, ortae de sanguine Gallorum, reus haberetur.

Then, the king having been relieved from his languor, Arnulf, chancellor of the Lord’s Sepulchre, now that the prelate Gobelin was dead, was elected and appointed patriarch. Thereafter setting out to Rome, kindly commended by Paschal, the Roman pontiff, and having returned and been excused from all things objected, he began, by the admonition and command of that Apostolic, [0709B] to charge and to warn the lord king, that he should remove from his bedchamber the aforesaid matron, whom he had taken as wife, on account of the adultery in which he had sinned against his first spouse, sprung from the princes of Armenia, in that he had defiled lawful nuptials by that woman’s adulterine connubials. He also interdicted him for this cause, because he would be held guilty of consanguinity with that same matron, sprung from the blood of the Gauls.

Ex hac admonitione constituto consilio in urbem Ptolemaidem in ecclesia S. crucis, rex ab uxore sua sequestratus est, Arnolfo patriarcha hoc agente, et omni clero et ipso judicante. Illa vero tristis et dolens, ab hoc vinculo maritali synodali lege soluta, in Siciliam navigio est reversa, rex vero ab ipsa die et deinceps in observantia indictae poenitentiae persistens, mira abstinentia et castimonia ab omnibus [0709C] illicitis corpus edomuit a Deo tactus et monitus.

From this admonition, with a council established in the city of Ptolemais in the church of the Holy Cross, the king was sequestered from his wife, Arnulf the patriarch doing this, and with all the clergy, and he himself, judging. But she, sad and grieving, released from this marital bond by synodal law, returned by ship to Sicily; while the king from that very day and thereafter, persevering in the observance of the indicted penitence, with wondrous abstinence and chastity subdued his body from all [0709C] illicit things, touched and admonished by God.

CAP. XXV. - Quomodo Pharamia civitas capta sit.

CHAPTER 25. - How the city Pharamia was taken.

Post aliquantum deinde temporis, audita querimonia super omnibus adversitatibus quae ab Ascalonitis fiebant peregrinis Jerusalem venientibus aut redeuntibus, rex Baldewinus accepto consilio suorum ipsum regem Babyloniae expugnare decrevit; ut si forte terra et regnum divitiaeque illius dissiparentur, minus Ascalon superbire et rebellare valeret, quae saepius opulentia regni et copiis armorum relevari et extolli solebat. Et jam veris tempore aspirante assumptis ducentis et sedecim equitibus, quadringentis vero peditibus bellico opere doctis et [0709D] assuetis, viam insistit per loca arida et solitaria cum vehiculis cibariorum non praedam aut quidquam contingentes de universis locis Arabiae, quae illi aut familiaritate confoederata erant, aut aliquem respectum faciebant. Undecim denique diebus jam via continuata cum omni manu praedicta, aperitur ei fluvius Nilus, qui perfluit regionem terrae Aegypti: in quem descendentes, a sudore loti sunt.

After then some interval of time, the complaint having been heard about all the adversities which were being done by the Ascalonites to the pilgrims coming to or returning from Jerusalem, King Baldwin, having taken counsel of his own, resolved to storm the very king of Babylon; so that, if perchance his land and kingdom and riches should be dissipated, Ascalon might be less able to swagger and to rebel, which very often was wont to be relieved and exalted by the opulence of his realm and by supplies of arms. And now, with springtime breathing, having taken 216 knights, and moreover 400 foot-soldiers trained and [0709D] accustomed to warlike work, he set himself on the way through arid and solitary places with vehicles of provisions, not touching spoil nor anything from all the places of Arabia which were to him either confederated by familiarity or paid any regard. Finally, with the way now continued for 11 days with the whole aforesaid band, the river Nile is opened to him, which flows through the region of the land of Egypt; descending into which, they were washed from sweat.

Inde castra moventes, die quadam feriae quintae ante mediam Quadragesimam mense Martio applicuerunt in terminos cujusdam civitatis, quae vocatur Pharamia, muris, portis et moenibus munitissima. Et haec de regno Babyloniae erat urbs speciosissima, non amplius quam trium dierum itinere a Babylonia distans. Sexta vero feria, quae proxima erat dies, ordinatis [0710A] aciebus et signis tantilli exercitus, loricis et galeis induti, aggredientes ipsam civitatem vacuam defensoribus, portas ejus patentes ingressi sunt in virtute et assultu et clamore magno: ubi necessariarum rerum copiam inauditam repererunt in vino, frumento, oleo et hordeo, in carne et piscibus, in omnibus quae vesci possunt.

Thence, moving camp, on a certain Thursday before the middle of Quadragesima in the month of March they arrived at the borders of a certain city which is called Pharamia, very strongly fortified with walls, gates, and bulwarks. And this, of the kingdom of Babylonia, was a most beautiful city, not more than a journey of three days distant from Babylonia. But on Friday, which was the next day, the battle-lines and standards of the so-small army having been arrayed [0710A], clad in cuirasses and helmets, attacking the city itself empty of defenders, they entered its standing-open gates in force and assault and with a great shout: where they found an unheard-of abundance of necessary things—in wine, grain, oil and barley, in meat and fishes, in everything that can be eaten.

Auri et argenti et totius pretiosi ornatus multus erat numerus, quod ibi repertum est. Universi enim inhabitatores civitatis, repente audita fama tam proximi adventus regis, omnis defensionis et rerum suarum obliti, fugaeque tantum intenti, procul ab urbe recesserunt, solum de vita et salute curantes. Rex et sui curriculo novem dierum, itinere et inaestimabili calore torridae plagae corpora fessa et gravata recreantes, cibis et potibus [0710B] abundanter repertis, sexta feria Sabbato et ipsa Dominica quieverunt, juxta voluntatem suam omnia facientes.

There was a great number of gold and silver and of every precious ornament, which was found there. For all the inhabitants of the city, the rumor having been suddenly heard of so near an approach of the king, forgetful of all defense and of their own goods, and intent only on flight, withdrew far from the city, caring only for life and safety. The king and his men, in the course of nine days, restoring their weary and burdened bodies from the journey and the inestimable heat of the torrid region, with foods and drinks [0710B] found in abundance, on Friday, on the Sabbath, and on the Lord’s Day itself they rested, doing all things according to their own will.

CAP. XXVI. - Rex Baldewinus, capta Pharamia, usque ad mortem aegrotavit.

CHAPTER 26. - King Baldwin, Pharamia having been captured, was sick unto death.

Dominica vero, die qua mediatur jejunium, viri sensati et de sua salute solliciti, convenerunt regem, in hunc modum loquentes: Pauci sumus, et jam civitati et regno Babyloniae virtus nostra innotuit, et haec Babylonia non amplius hinc quam via trium dierum remota esse perhibetur: ideo consilium ad invicem conferamus, ut ab hac civitate exeuntes, viam, sicut devovimus, continuemus et non moram hic faciamus. Rex itaque suorum consiliis satisfaciens, summo diluculo sociis admonitis, muros civitatis diruens, [0710C] ignes universis aedificiis turrium et aedium immisit, totis viribus ante omnes praecipue stragi illius incumbens, ne Babyloniis ultra vires et opem conferret. Hanc vero stragem, ut dictum est, dum rex prae cunctis validius ac attentius exerceret in ruina murorum, in aedificiis incendendis, ultra modum membris calore et labore vexatis, vehemente infirmitate corripitur, et magis ac magis molestia corporis coepit augeri.

On the Lord’s Day, indeed, the day on which the fast is halved, men sensible and solicitous for their own safety convened the king, speaking in this manner: We are few, and already to the city and the kingdom of Babylonia our valor has become known, and this Babylonia is reported to be no more distant from here than a journey of three days: therefore let us confer counsel among ourselves, that, going out from this city, we may continue the way, as we have vowed, and let us not make delay here. The king therefore, satisfying the counsels of his men, at the very dawn, with his companions admonished, tearing down the walls of the city, [0710C] sent fires into all the structures of the towers and the houses, applying himself with all his might before all especially to that havoc, lest it should further confer strength and aid to the Babylonians. But this havoc, as has been said, while the king, before all, was more vigorously and attentively executing it in the ruin of the walls and in setting the buildings on fire, his limbs, beyond measure vexed by heat and toil, he is seized by a violent infirmity, and the bodily distress began to increase more and more.

Jam vero tenebris relatis et prorsus sole sublato, vitam desperans, primores sui exercitus convocans, debilitatem sui corporis detexit, nec se posse mortem nunc evadere attestatur. Hac audita desperatione et desolatione regis, universi a minimo usque ad maximum coeperunt ingemiscere, fletus [0710D] nimii ac lacrymae ab oculis erumpere, et magna in cunctis facta est desolatio: nulli quippe spes aut fiducia redeundi ultra Jerusalem erat, sed arbitrabantur se hoc in exsilio capitali sententia esse perimendos.

Now indeed, with darkness brought back and the sun utterly withdrawn, despairing of life, and summoning the chiefs of his army, he disclosed the debility of his body, and attests that he cannot now evade death. This desperation and desolation of the king having been heard, all, from the least to the greatest, began to groan, excessive weeping [0710D] and tears burst forth from their eyes, and great desolation was made among all: for indeed none had hope or confidence of returning any more to Jerusalem, but they supposed that in this exile they were to be destroyed by a capital sentence.

CAP. XXVII. - Consolatio et jussio regis ad milites, habita de morte et sepultura ejus.

CHAPTER 27. - The consolation and command of the king to the soldiers, delivered concerning his death and burial.

Ad quos corroborandos rex, licet mire aggravatus esset, ait: Quare sic, viri fortissimi et saepius in periculis probati, animus vester in mei solius imminutione disturbatur, fletus, desolatio et dolores geminantur? Non, fratres mei dilectissimi et commilitones dulcissimi, mors mei solius corda vestra sic mollescere et deficere faciat, et infirmare etiam in terra peregrina et inimicorum. Mementote in Dei nomine, quia mea [0711A] virtus unius est hominis et quia adhuc inter vos quamplurimi habeantur, quorum virtus et consilium parum aut nihil a meo distat.

To corroborate them, the king, although wondrously weighed down, said: Why thus, most valiant men and oft proved in dangers, is your spirit disturbed at the diminution of me alone, and are weeping, desolation, and pains doubled? No, my most dearly beloved brothers and sweetest fellow-soldiers, let the death of me alone not make your hearts thus grow soft and fail, nor weaken you even in a foreign land, that of enemies. Remember in the name of God, that my [0711A] valor is that of one man, and that there are still very many among you, whose valor and counsel differ little or nothing from my own.

Et idcirco viri estote fortissimi, et in dolore mortis meae tristes nequaquam effeminari incipiatis; sed decet vos sollicitos esse quomodo caute redeatis in virtute armorum vestrorum et regnum Jerusalem retineatis, sicut a principio Deo devovistis. Et hoc dicto, summa prece et in fide atque observantia admonuit universos qui aderant, ut si obiret, nunquam corpus ejus exanime in terra hac Sarracenorum sepulcro reconderent, ne ludibrio et derisui gentibus haberetur; sed cum omni arte et labore, quo valerent, ad terram Jerusalem cadaver suum reportarent, et juxta fratrem suum Godefridum sepelirent. Hoc audientes, et vix se a fletu cohibentes, [0711B] responderunt, quod grave et importabile onus illis imponeret, cum etiam impossibile esset in diebus gravissimi et aestivi caloris aliquod cadaver reservare, tangere et portare.

And therefore be men of the utmost fortitude, and do not begin, in the grief of my death, to be in any way effeminated by sadness; but it befits you to be solicitous how you may cautiously return in the prowess of your arms and retain the kingdom of Jerusalem, as from the beginning you have vowed to God. And having said this, with highest entreaty and in faith and observance he admonished all who were present that, if he should pass away, they should never lay his lifeless body in a sepulcher in this land of the Saracens, lest it be held to the peoples for a laughingstock and a derision; but with every art and labor, so far as they were able, they should carry back his cadaver to the land of Jerusalem, and bury him beside his brother Godfrey. Hearing this, and scarcely restraining themselves from weeping, [0711B] they replied that he was imposing on them a grave and insupportable burden, since it would also be impossible, in days of the most grievous and estival heat, to preserve, touch, and carry any cadaver.

Ad haec rex magis instat, et admonet universos ut causa directionis suae hunc laborem non recusarent. Et post haec dicta sic precatur, dicens: Statim cum mortuus fuero, precor ut alvum meum ferro aperientes, interiora mea tollatis, corpus vero sale et aromatibus conditum corio aut tapetibus involvatis, et sic ad catholicas exsequias Jerusalem juxta sepulcrum fratris mei referatur et sepeliatur. Nec mora, Addonem cocum, qui erat de domo sua, accersitum sacramento alligavit in alvi sui sectione et viscerum ejectione.

To these things the king presses more, and admonishes all not to refuse this labor for the sake of his directive. And after these words he thus prays, saying: Immediately when I shall have died, I beg that, opening my belly with iron, you remove my inner parts; but let the body, seasoned with salt and aromatics, be wrapped in hide or in tapestries, and thus be borne to Catholic obsequies at Jerusalem beside the sepulcher of my brother and be buried. Without delay, Addo the cook, who was of his household, having been summoned, he bound by oath for the cutting of his belly and the casting out of his viscera.

Cui et ait: Scias, me in brevi moriturum, et idcirco sicut me diligis, aut, [0711C] viventem atque incolumem dilexisti, et modo mortuo fidem serves, me ferro exentera, sale interius et exterius me apprime frica; oculos, nares, aures et os meum non parce imple, et cum caeteris me reportare non desinas: et sic desiderium meum scito te adimplere, et in hoc fidem mihi te crede servare. Et hoc disposito, feria tertia vehementius infirmitate usque ad interitum coepit torqueri in oculis suorum primatum et fidelium.

And he said to him: Know that I am shortly to die, and therefore, as you love me, or, [0711C] as you loved me living and unharmed, and now keep faith with me dead: exenterate me with iron, rub me thoroughly with salt within and without; do not spare to fill my eyes, nostrils, ears, and mouth, and do not cease to carry me back with the others: and thus know that you fulfill my desire, and in this believe that you keep faith with me. And this being arranged, on Tuesday he began to be wracked more vehemently by illness even unto death, in the sight of his own primates and faithful men.

CAP. XXVIII. - Inquisitio militum, quis post eum debeat tenere coronam: et corporis ipsius reportatio in Jerusalem.

CHAPTER 28. - Inquisition of the soldiers, who after him ought to hold the crown: and the reportation of his body into Jerusalem.

Illi vitae ejus defectionem intuentes, quia vir magnae erat sapientiae, dum adhuc incolumis esset, requirunt quem post mortem suam velit haeredem [0711D] regni Jerusalem locari aut coronari; quatenus ex ejus consilio et decreto certius et sine lite coronandus posset constitui. Qui fratri Eustachio regnum destinavit, si forte venerit; si vero aetate nequiverit, Baldewinus de Burg eligatur, aut talis, qui populum Christianum regat, ecclesias defendat, qui stabilis in fide maneat, quem nulla adversariorum virtus terreat, aut merces leviter corrumpat. Et hoc dicto, vir in terra nativitatis suae de Lotharingia ex nobili sanguine nobilissimus, rex in regno Jerusalem gloriosissimus ac victoriosissimus, Dei athleta fortissimus, spiritum vitae exhalavit, in fide Christi stabilis et in confessione Domini purgatus, Dominici corporis et sanguinis perceptione munitus.

They, beholding the failure of his life, because he was a man of great wisdom, while he was still in good health, inquire whom, after his death, he wishes to be set as heir [0711D] of the kingdom of Jerusalem or to be crowned; so that from his counsel and decree the one to be crowned might be established more surely and without strife. He destined the kingdom for his brother Eustace, if by chance he should come; but if by reason of age he should be unable, let Baldwin of Bourcq be chosen, or such a one as will rule the Christian people, defend the churches, who will remain stable in faith, whom no valor of adversaries will terrify, nor a bribe lightly corrupt. And this said, the man—most noble in the land of his birth, of Lotharingia, from noble blood, most glorious and most victorious king in the kingdom of Jerusalem, the most valiant athlete of God—breathed out the breath of life, steadfast in the faith of Christ and purified in the confession of the Lord, fortified by the reception of the Lord’s body and blood.

Jam sic defuncto principe clarissimo in terra barbara, egregii [0712A] principes et commilitones, equites et pedites, prae dolore in lacrymas cum magno ululatu et planctu fluxere nimias; et amplius fletum congeminassent, nisi timor esset, quem in terra undique hostili apprehenderunt in tanti principis amissione. Quapropter dissimulata illius morte et omni tristitia, sicut obnixe rogavit, sectus est alvus illius, viscera exposita et sepulta, corpus vero salsum intus et exterius, in oculis, ore, naribus et auribus aromatibus quoque ac balsamo conditum, corio consutum ac tapetibus involutum, equis impositum, ac firmiter alligatum est; ita ut nulla gentilium astutia percipi posset eum obiisse, et sic in audaciam persequendi exercitum desolatum, undique ebullientes, animarentur. Hac arte ubi corpus exanime compositum, hocque [0712B] vehiculo caute per terram peregrinam, per loca deserta et invia deductum, per regionem vallis Hebron, ubi castellum et sepultura sanctorum patriarcharum, Abraham, Isaac et Jacob usque in hodiernum diem a fidelibus honoratur, reditum fecerunt, per dies continuos a dextris et a sinistris semper custodiam armatorum equitum et peditum habentes.

Now, with the most illustrious prince thus deceased in a barbarous land, the eminent [0712A] princes and fellow-soldiers, horsemen and footmen, out of grief flowed into excessive tears with great ululation and plaint; and they would have redoubled their weeping yet more, had there not been the fear which, in a land everywhere hostile, they apprehended upon the loss of so great a prince. Wherefore, his death and all sadness dissembled, just as he had earnestly requested, his belly was cut, the entrails exposed and buried, but the body salted within and without, and, in the eyes, mouth, nostrils, and ears, likewise seasoned with aromatics and balsam, sewn with hide and wrapped in tapestries, set upon horses and firmly bound; so that by no craft of the gentiles could it be perceived that he had died, and thus they, boiling up on every side, might be encouraged in the audacity of pursuing the desolated army. By this art, when the lifeless body had been arranged, and this [0712B] vehicle cautiously led through a foreign land, through desert and trackless places, through the region of the valley of Hebron, where a fortress and the sepulcher of the holy patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is honored by the faithful even to the present day, they made their return, for continuous days always having a guard of armed horsemen and footmen on the right and on the left.

Dehinc cum exstincto corpore regis in campestria Ascalonis applicantes, erectis signis et cuneis ordinatis, in sola virtute militari confidentes, sine impedimento et aliquo adversariorum incursu transisse perhibentur, quousque montana Jerusalem ipso die sancto celebri Palmarum unanimiter cum regio cadavere ingressi sunt.

Thereafter, making for the plains of Ascalon with the lifeless body of the king, with standards raised and the wedges arranged, confiding in military virtue alone, they are reported to have passed without hindrance and without any incursion of adversaries, until they entered the mountains of Jerusalem on that very holy and renowned Day of Palms, in unison, with the royal cadaver.

CAP. XXIX. - Quod regali sepulcro regem condierunt, et quod statim dominus patriarcha infirmatus obierit. [0712C]

CHAPTER 29. - That they entombed the king in a royal sepulchre, and that immediately the lord patriarch, having fallen ill, died. [0712C]

Eadem denique die a monte Olivarum dominus Patriarcha cum clero suo post Palmarum consecrationem descenderat: cui de templo Domini et de universis ecclesiis fratres occurrentes, ad diem festum convenerunt in hymnis et laudibus in celebratione diei sancti, quo et Dominus Jesus in asello residens, civitatem sanctam Jerusalem ingredi dignatus est. Sic vero omnibus conventiculis Christianorum ad id solemne in laudibus Dei congregatis, ecce rex defunctus in medio psallentium allatus est: in cujus visione voces suppressae et laudes humiliatae sunt; fletus tam cleri quam populi plurimus auditus est. Verumtamen Palmarum expleto officio, et omnibus [0712D] per portam, quae dicitur Aurea, per quam Dominus Jesus ad passionem veniens immissus est, cum rege defuncto intromissis: decretum est communi consilio ut statim corpus exanime sepulturae traderetur, quod diu reservatum etiam fetidum diutius reservari, grave et inconveniens ab omnibus ferebatur.

On that same day, at length, from the Mount of Olives the lord Patriarch with his clergy, after the consecration of the Palms, had descended: to whom, from the Temple of the Lord and from all the churches, the brothers, running to meet them, came together for the feast day in hymns and praises in celebration of the holy day, on which also the Lord Jesus, sitting on an ass-colt, deigned to enter the holy city Jerusalem. Thus indeed, with all the Christian conventicles gathered together for that solemnity in the praises of God, behold, the deceased king was borne in among the psalm-singers: at the sight of whom the voices were suppressed and the praises humbled; very great weeping of both clergy and people was heard. Nevertheless, the Office of Palms having been completed, and all [0712D] admitted through the gate which is called the Golden, through which the Lord Jesus, coming to his Passion, was let in, together with the deceased king: it was decreed by common counsel that the lifeless body be forthwith consigned to sepulture, because, long kept back and even fetid, it was considered by all to be grievous and unfitting to be kept back any longer.

Nec mora, catholicis exsequiis expletis, a domino patriarcha terrae commendatus, juxta fratris uterini Godefridi sepulcrum in loco Calvariae, in vestibulo templi Dominici sepulcri mausoleo, sicut decet reges, in memoriam et honorem sui nominis, magno et mirifico opere, et marmore candido polito, inter caeteros sepultos promotus est; sicut et frater ejus Godefridus eodem mausolei honore sublimatus est. Jam sepulto tam clarissimo principe Jerusalem, Arnolfus [0713A] patriarcha venerabilis prae dolore mortis tanti regis et athletae Christi, vehementi infirmitate corripitur; et spatio trium hebdomadarum male habens vitam finivit, juxta patriarcharum sepulturam appositus.

Nor was there delay: the Catholic obsequies completed, commended to the earth by the lord patriarch, he was placed near the sepulcher of his uterine brother Godfrey at the place of Calvary, in the vestibule of the temple of the Lord’s Sepulcher, in a mausoleum, as befits kings, in memory and honor of his name, with great and wondrous workmanship, and with polished white marble, advanced among the other interred; just as his brother Godfrey was exalted with the same honor of a mausoleum. Now, with so most illustrious a prince of Jerusalem buried, Arnulf [0713A] the venerable patriarch, from grief at the death of so great a king and athlete of Christ, is seized by a vehement infirmity; and, ill for the space of three weeks, he finished his life, being laid beside the burial of the patriarchs.

CAP. XXX. - Quomodo, sepulto rege Baldewino, nepos illius, Baldewinus de Burg, ab omnibus in regem sit electus et unctus, Germundo novo patriarcha consecrato.

CHAPTER 30. - How, King Baldwin having been buried, his nephew, Baldwin of Bourcq, was by all elected and anointed king, with Germund, the new patriarch, consecrated.

Eodem die quo rex Baldewinus humatus est, et Arnolfus patriarcha coepit aegrotare, clerus et populus tam rudis Ecclesiae tanto rege ac defensore viduatus, de regis restitutione agere coeperunt, dicentes non utile esse consilium ut rege ac defensoris solatio locus et gens diu careret, et locus et terra a nullo defensa periret. Cumque diversi diversa [0713B] dicerent, tandem omnibus acceptum fuit ut Baldewinus de Burg in throno regni Jerusalem locaretur, eo quod miles imperterritus multa pericula in praesidiis pro salute Christianorum saepe sustinuisset, et terram Rohas strenue ab omni assultu hostili defentam retinuisset. Et statim acclamatum est illum coronam regni jure recipere, et dominum patriarcham eum in regem procreare et promovere.

On the same day on which King Baldwin was interred, and Arnulf the patriarch began to be sick, the clergy and the people, the Church so raw and widowed of so great a king and defender, began to act concerning the restoration of a king, saying that it was not a useful counsel that the place and the nation should for a long time lack a king and the solace of a defender, and that the place and the land, defended by no one, should perish. And when different men were saying different things [0713B], at length it was acceptable to all that Baldwin of Bourcq be placed upon the throne of the kingdom of Jerusalem, because, an undaunted soldier, he had often endured many dangers in the garrisons for the salvation of the Christians, and had stoutly retained the land of Rohas, defended from every hostile assault. And straightway it was acclaimed that he receive by right the crown of the kingdom, and that the lord patriarch create and promote him as king.

Venerat enim idem Baldewinus ad diem festum adorare in Jerusalem, de omnibus quae acciderant nescius. Patriarcha autem adhuc vivens, licet aegrotus, videns populi devotionem et constantiam erga Baldewinum, quantulumcunque renitentem, et divitias Rohas sibi sufficere protestantem, ipse assensum benigne attribuens, [0713C] in regem et dominum Jerusalem unxit et consecravit. Unctus autem Baldewinus et consecratus in regem, et in sanctae resurrectionis die praeclara honoratus, honorifice est exaltatus in laetitia, his diebus sacris jucundatus, et justitiam Dei in omnibus devotissime operatus.

For that same Baldwin had come on the feast day to adore in Jerusalem, unaware of all that had happened. But the patriarch, still living, though sick, seeing the people’s devotion and constancy toward Baldwin—he resisting ever so little and protesting that the riches of Rohas were sufficient for him—himself kindly granting assent, [0713C] anointed and consecrated him as king and lord of Jerusalem. And Baldwin, anointed and consecrated as king, and on the day of the Holy Resurrection splendidly honored, was honorably exalted in joy, made glad in these sacred days, and most devoutly worked the justice of God in all things.

Die vero statuta, sicut justum est et leges docent, universis primoribus regni in palatium Salomonis regis convocatis, singulis beneficia contulit, fidem et sacramentum ab his suscipiens, et honorifice quemque in sua remisit. Civitates vero, Neapolin, Samariam, Joppen, Caiphas, castellum S. Abrahae, Ptolemaidem, Sagittam, Tabariam et caeteras civitates et loca quae erant de regno Jerusalem suo subjecit imperio, quosdam reditus eorum suis constituens primatibus, quosdam [0713D] vero suae mensae attitulavit. Mortuo Rege Baldewino et Arnolfo patriarcha, Baldewino quoque in regem uncto, Germundus, vir bonae conversationis, ab omni clero et populo in patriarcham eligitur; et consecratus a sanctis pontificibus, cathedram episcopalem Jerusalem meruit obtinere, ad regendum populum Dei vivi, et corroborandam novam et sanctam Ecclesiam Jerusalem.

On the appointed day, as is just and as the laws teach, with all the chief men of the kingdom convened in the palace of King Solomon, he conferred benefices on each, receiving from them fealty and the oath, and honorably sent each back to his own. The cities, namely Neapolis, Samaria, Joppa, Caiphas, the castle of St. Abraham, Ptolemais, Sagitta, Tabaria and the other cities and places which belonged to the kingdom of Jerusalem, he subjected to his dominion, assigning some of their revenues to his own primates, while some [0713D] he enrolled to his own table. King Baldwin and Patriarch Arnulf having died, and Baldwin also having been anointed as king, Germundus, a man of good conduct, was chosen as patriarch by all the clergy and the people; and, consecrated by the holy pontiffs, he deserved to obtain the episcopal chair of Jerusalem, to rule the people of the living God and to strengthen the new and holy Church of Jerusalem.

CAP. XXXI. - De quatuor millibus Idumaeorum pastorum, quos in die sancto Paschae Christiani milites, dum insequuntur, passim occiduntur.

CHAPTER 31. - On the four thousand Idumaean shepherds, who, on the holy day of Pascha, are everywhere slain by Christian soldiers as they pursue them.

In anno secundo regni Baldewini de Burg, novi regis Jerusalem, principis Rohas civitatis, quidam Sarraceni de regno Arabiae, quidam etiam de gente Idumaeorum, quos moderni Bidumos vocant, armenta [0714A] camerorum super triginta millia, boum centum millia, greges ovium et caprarum inaudita millia de terra et regione sua educentes, et ad pascua cogentes in latere regni Damascenorum, illuc prosecuti sunt herbarum copiam, licentia et consensu principis terrae Damasci, pro pacto byzantiorum, quod ipse dominus terrae ab eis accepturus erat. Cum tot millibus, equites et pedites supra quatuor millia ad custodiendos greges, sunt egressi de terra Aegypti et Arabiae in lancea et gladio, et omni pinguedine cibariorum necessariorum. Hi dum pacifice in latere regni Damasci super gregem suum custodiam agerent solliciti, nec quidquam metuerent fiducia Dochini principis Damasci, cujus gratia et licentia per pascua diffusi erant cum uxoribus et [0714B] pueris, sicut mos est gentilium: fama tantorum pastorum a terra longinqua huc progressorum attigit aures Gozelini de Curcenay, qui dono regis Baldewini, fratris Godefridi, terram et redditus Tabariae in beneficio obtinuit, eo quod altis parentibus ortus, filius esset amitae Baldewini de Burg facti regis Jerusalem.

In the second year of the reign of Baldwin of Bourcq, the new king of Jerusalem, prince of the city of Rohas, certain Saracens of the kingdom of Arabia, certain also of the nation of the Idumaeans, whom the moderns call Bedouins, driving out from their land and region herds of camels, over 30,000, 100,000 head of cattle, and flocks of sheep and goats in unheard-of thousands, and forcing them to the pastures on the flank of the kingdom of the Damascenes, there pursued the abundance of grasses, with the license and consent of the prince of the land of Damascus, for a pact of bezants, which the lord of the land himself was to receive from them. With so many thousands, horse and foot over 4,000 to guard the herds, they set out from the land of Egypt and Arabia with spear and sword, and with all the fatness of necessary provisions. These, while peacefully on the side of the kingdom of Damascus they were anxiously keeping watch over their herd, and feared nothing in the confidence of Dochinus, prince of Damascus, by whose favor and license they had been dispersed through the pastures with their wives and [0714A] children, as is the custom of the gentiles: the rumor of so many herdsmen who had advanced hither from a far land reached the ears of Gozelin of Courtenay, who by the gift of King Baldwin, the brother of Godfrey, held the land and revenues of Tiberias in benefice, because, sprung from high parents, he was the son of the aunt of Baldwin of Bourcq, made king of Jerusalem. [0714B]

Hic ergo Gozelinus tam innumerabili gregum comperta multitudine in loco remoto et solitudinis, Godefrido de Burs et de terra civitatis Parisiorum, viro egregio et militi clarissimo in omni opere bellico, fratrique ejus Willhelmo indicare non distulit, et ad invadendum praedam utrosque fratres adhortatus est. Qui illius adhortationi acquiescentes, centum et sexaginta equitibus, viris bello audacissimis et praedarum avidissimis, peditibus vero sexaginta [0714C] in arcu, lancea et gladio ferocissimis, admonitis et congregatis, profecti sunt in regionem eamdem qua pastores et pastorum custodes, fortissimi milites Arabes, Aegyptii, Idumaei accubabant, et armenta cum ovibus et capris spatiose in longitudine et latudine vagabantur. Ut vero ad locum perventum est, Gozelinus cum quinquaginta equitibus in una acie a dextris attitulatus est ad subveniendum.

Therefore this Gozelin, having discovered such an innumerable multitude of flocks in a remote and solitary place, did not delay to disclose it to Godfrey of Bures and of the territory of the city of the Parisians, a distinguished man and a most illustrious soldier in every warlike operation, and to his brother William, and he exhorted both brothers to invade the booty. They, assenting to his exhortation, with 160 horsemen, men most bold in war and most avid for booty, and with 60 foot-soldiers [0714C] most fierce with bow, lance, and sword, having been warned and assembled, set out into that same region where the shepherds and the guardians of the shepherds—the very stout soldiers, Arabs, Egyptians, Idumaeans—were lying encamped, and the herds with sheep and goats were roaming spaciously in length and breadth. But when the place was reached, Gozelin with fifty horsemen in one battle-line was stationed on the right to bring succor.

Willhelmus totidem in suo cuneo ordinatis equitibus, galea et lorica indutis, sinistra ex parte procul positus remansit, ut vires auxiliatrices sociis bellum insistentibus conferret. Godefridus de Burs sexaginta equites in sua acie retinens, cum omni comitatu robustorum peditum in medio constitutus, [0714D] audacter pastores pastorumque magistros impetit, praedam abducere conatus, et omnibus viribus rapinae insistens, nimium processit inter manus defensorum gregis. Quatuor millia, cornibus et signis auditis, in momento adfuerunt ad excutiendos greges: qui Godefridum cum suis coronantes, graviter cum eis commiserunt, donec Godefridus et sui paucissimi tantorum vim suffere non valentes, ad quadraginta in arcu, lancea et gladio ceciderunt: viri fortissimi, et usque ad hanc diem in omnibus praeliis invictissimi; singuli reditibus terrarum et locorum possessionibus ditati, in obsequio militari et ipsi equites sub se habentes, alius viginti, alius decem, alius quinque aut duo ad minus.

William, with just as many knights arranged in his wedge, clad in helmet and cuirass, remained posted at a distance on the left, to confer auxiliary forces upon his comrades pressing the battle. Godfrey of Burs, keeping sixty knights in his own line, set in the center with the whole company of stalwart footmen, [0714D] boldly attacks the herdsmen and the masters of the herdsmen, attempting to carry off the booty, and, pressing with all his strength upon the plunder, advanced too far into the hands of the defenders of the herd. Four thousand, when the horns and signals were heard, were at hand in a moment to recover the herds; and, ring-crowning Godfrey with his men, they engaged them heavily, until Godfrey and his very few, not able to endure the force of so many, up to forty fell by bow, lance, and sword: men most brave, and down to this day in all battles most unconquered; each enriched with revenues of lands and with holdings of places, and in military service they themselves having knights under them, one twenty, another ten, another five, or at least two.

Octo tantum captivi abducti sunt, reliqui armis inimicorum interiorunt. [0715A] Willhelmus audita vociferatione ad invicem fortiter dimicantium, ascenso aquo suo cum suis, dum subvenire vellet angustiatis, per fruteta et loca arida errore viarum retardatur; et sic sociis in magno positis periculo nequaquam succurrere valuit. Gozelinus vero intelligens casum et interitum suorum fortium, et ipse inter manus crudelium audacter involat, nullo tamen auxilio jam occisis sociis et attritis poterat prodesse.

Only eight captives were led away; the rest perished by the arms of the enemies. [0715A] William, the vociferation of those bravely fighting having been heard, having mounted his horse with his men, while he wished to come to the aid of the hard-pressed, is delayed through thickets and arid places by an error of the roads; and thus he was by no means able to succor his comrades placed in great peril. Gozelin, however, understanding the mishap and destruction of his valiant men, he himself boldly flies into the hands of the cruel, yet by no aid could he profit them, his comrades now slain and worn down.

Referuntur autem supra ducentos Sarracenorum in eodem praelio occisi esse. Pedites vero Christianorum de sexaginta vix decem per devia et opaca loca elapsi sunt. Contigerunt haec damna gravissima egregiorum militum ipso die Dominicae Resurrectionis, quando omnes viri catholici solent quiescere a laboribus et cunctis seditionibus, [0715B] vacare eleemosynis et orationibus.

It is reported, moreover, that over two hundred of the Saracens were slain in the same battle. But of the Christian footsoldiers, out of sixty scarcely ten slipped away through byways and shadowy places. These most grievous losses of distinguished soldiers befell on the very day of the Lord’s Resurrection, when all Catholic men are wont to rest from labors and from all seditions, [0715B] to devote themselves to alms and prayers.

Existimo igitur quia hac de causa dati sunt in manibus inimicorum, quod tam sanctissima die rapinis inhiabant; et idcirco suorum auxilio per invia errantium destitutos fuisse.

I reckon therefore that for this cause they were delivered into the hands of the enemies, because on so most holy a day they were gaping after rapine; and for that reason they were left destitute of the aid of their own, who were wandering through trackless places.

CAP. XXXII. - Rex Baldewinus secundus in ultionem inimicorum militiam congregavit, quem Idumaei pecunia placant.

CHAPTER 32. - King Baldwin the Second congregated the militia to take vengeance on his enemies, whom the Idumaeans placate with money.

Tam lacrymabili strage fortissimis viris peremptis, crudelis rumor ad regem Baldewinum ab Jerusalem profectum, et Ptolemaide commorantem, transvolat de nece et infortunio nominatorum principum, quorum auxilio et consilio Ecclesia Jerusalem confortata, multum de die in diem proficiebat. Quo audito, et morte [0715C] Godefridi dilectissimi militis agnita, concussum est cor illius dolore vehementi, et vultus ejus ab omni hilaritate decidit, ac universorum corda, qui his paschalibus feriis laetitia affluebant, in luctum et gemitum per omnes vicos et plateas civitatis Ptolemaidis commutata sunt. Nec mora, universis incolis civitatis Jerusalem convocatis in ultionem confratrum occisorum, et de universis locis Christianorum habitationis rex contraxit exercitum, et usque Bethan cum sex millibus veniens, tentoria sua per campestria locari jussit.

With so tear-lamentable a slaughter, the very bravest men slain, a cruel rumor flies across to King Baldwin, who had set out from Jerusalem and was staying at Ptolemais, about the death and misfortune of the aforesaid princes, by whose help and counsel the Church of Jerusalem, strengthened, was making much progress from day to day. On hearing this, and with the death [0715C] of Godfrey, his most beloved soldier, recognized, his heart was shaken with vehement grief, and his countenance fell from all cheerfulness; and the hearts of all who during these Paschal holidays were overflowing with joy were changed into mourning and groaning through all the lanes and squares of the city of Ptolemais. Without delay, having convoked all the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem for the avenging of the slain brethren, and from all the places of Christian habitation the king gathered an army, and, coming as far as Bethan with six thousand, he ordered his tents to be pitched over the open plains.

Nocte eadem coepit taedere exercitum Jerusalem et caeteros qui convenerant, viae et ultionis hujus, eo quod Damascenorum civitas nimium vicina et Turcorum armis munita erat. Interea dum sic haesitarent, Idumaei, exterriti fama [0716A] adventus novi regis diffisique de ope Turcorum et illorum fidei levitate, decreverunt regi dare quatuor millia byzantiorum pro caede suorum, ut sic ejus gratia et consensu deinceps secure et pacifice gregem suum custodiant, et nulla eis vis inferatur. Quod rex consilio suorum fieri concessit, videns populi sui proficisci nolentis constantiam.

In that same night it began to be wearisome to the army of Jerusalem and to the others who had come together, this road and vengeance, because the city of the Damascenes was too near and fortified with the arms of the Turks. Meanwhile, while they were hesitating thus, the Idumaeans, terrified by the report [0716A] of the advent of the new king and distrustful of the help of the Turks and of the levity of their pledged faith, resolved to give the king four thousand bezants for the slaughter of their own men, so that thus, by his favor and consent, thereafter they might guard their flock securely and pacifically, and that no violence be inflicted on them. Which the king, by the counsel of his men, permitted to be done, seeing the constancy of his people unwilling to set forth.

Accepta rex hac auri massa, Ptolemaidem rediit, pro anima Godefridi et pro animabus caeterorum occisorum eleemosynas fieri constituens et plurimas missarum celebrationes.

The king, having received this mass of gold, returned to Ptolemais, ordaining that alms be made for the soul of Godfrey and for the souls of the other slain, and very many celebrations of masses.

CAP. XXXIII. - De septingentis Christianis peregrinis, qui post visitationem Dominici sepulcri in redeundo occisi sunt a nequissimis Sarracenis.

CHAPTER 33. - Concerning seven hundred Christian pilgrims, who, after the visitation of the Lord’s sepulcher, in returning were slain by most wicked Saracens.

Item ipso in anno secundo regis Baldewini secundi [0716B] in Sabbato sancto ejusdem resurrectionis, qua Godefridus et praedicti milites in crastino sunt ab Idumaeis trucidati, quando jugis de coelo gratia Dei ad corroborandam fidem Dominicae resurrectionis, in lampade olei in sepulcro Dominico reposita, flammam in momento suscitat ad incendendum hac nocte paschalem cereum, quidam peregrini circiter septingenti qui, adorato Domino Jesu ante sepulcrum ipsius venerabile, et qui, viso miraculo ignis coelitus accensi, in gaudio et hilari corde a Jerusalem descenderant ut fluenta Jordanis visitarent juxta ritum fidelium, ubi jam a montanis usque ad castellum Cuschet et de Burgewins processissent in solitudinis loco, ecce Sarraceni de Sur et Ascalone [0716C] adsunt, armis fortissime peregrinos incurrentes et cum eis praelia conserentes. Peregrini sicut inermes, et multis diebus via aggravati, cibis pro nomine Jesus attenuati, cito superati in fugam versi sunt: quos impii carnifices insecuti, trecentos in ore gladii peremerunt, sexaginta captivos tenuerunt. His miseriis et caedibus auditis in Jerusalem et circuitu ejus, rex et dominus patriarcha Germundus, cum omnibus viris, magnis afflicti sunt doloribus.

Likewise in this same year, the second of King Baldwin II, [0716B] on Holy Saturday of that same Resurrection—on which Godfrey and the aforesaid knights on the morrow were butchered by the Idumaeans—when the continual grace of God from heaven, to strengthen the faith of the Lord’s Resurrection, in the lamp of oil placed in the Lord’s Sepulchre, in a moment awakens a flame to ignite on this night the Paschal candle, certain pilgrims, about seven hundred, who, having adored the Lord Jesus before his venerable sepulchre, and who, the miracle having been seen of the fire kindled from heaven, had gone down from Jerusalem with joy and a cheerful heart to visit the streams of the Jordan according to the rite of the faithful—where already they had advanced from the highlands as far as the castle of Cuschet and from Burgewins, in a place of the wilderness—behold, the Saracens from Tyre and Ascalon [0716C] are at hand, charging the pilgrims most stoutly with arms and joining battle with them. The pilgrims, as being unarmed, and weighed down by the road for many days, attenuated by fastings for the name of Jesus, were quickly overcome and turned to flight; the impious executioners, pursuing them, slew 300 with the edge of the sword and held 60 as captives. These miseries and slaughters being heard in Jerusalem and its circuit, the king and the lord Patriarch Germundus, with all the men, were afflicted with great sorrows.

Quare milites in ultionem fidelium interfectorum sine mora dirigunt. Sed frustra hi ad arma contendunt, viamque insistunt. Nam Sarraceni post stragem hanc fugitivi facti sunt, et in moenibus Sur et Ascalonis cum captivis Christianis, cum spoliis Christianorum immissi sunt.

Therefore they send soldiers without delay in revenge for the slain faithful; but in vain do these press to arms and enter upon the road. For the Saracens, after this slaughter, were made fugitives, and were admitted within the walls of Tyre and Ascalon with Christian captives and with the spoils of the Christians.