The History of the Holy War, Book 2 · Chapter 45
Chap. 45. The revolt of the Earl of Tripoli; The Christians irrecoverably overthrown, and their King taken prisoner.
THere was at this time a truce betwixt the Christians and Saladine,1187 broken on this occasion: Saladines mother went from Egypt to Damascus, with much treasure and a little train, as sufficiently guarded with the truce yet in force: when Reinold of Castile surprised and robbed her. Saladine glad of this occasion, gathereth all his strength together, and besiegeth Ptolemais.
Now Reimund Earl of Tripoli appeareth in his colours, vexed at the losse of the government. His great stomach hath no room for patience: and his passions boyled from a fever to a phrensie; so that blinded with anger at King Guy, he mistaketh his enemy, and will be revenged on God and religion; revolting with his Principalitie (a third part of the Kingdome of Jerusalem) to Saladine; and in his own person under a visard, assisted him in this siege.
Out of the citie marched the Templars and Hospitallers,May 1. and falling on the Turks killed twentie thousand of them. Yet they gave welnigh a valuable consideration for their victory, the master of the Hospitallers being slain; and a brave Generall in battel never dieth unattended.
Saladine hereupon raiseth his siege; and Reimund Earl of Tripoli, whether out of fear the Christians might prevail, or remorse of conscience, or discontent, not finding that respect he expected of Saladine (who had learned that politick maxime, To give some honour, no trust to a fugitive) reconciled himself to King Guy; and sory for his former offense, returned to the Christians.
King Guy hereupon gathering the whole strength of his weak Kingdome to do their last devoir, determined to bid Saladine battel; though having but fifteen hundred horse and fifteen thousand foot, against an hundred and twenty thousand horse and an hundred and sixty thousand foot.Iuly 3. Nigh Tiberias the battel was fought: They close in the afternoon; but night moderating betwixt them, both sides drew their stakes till next morning:4. then on afresh. The Christians valour poised the number of their enemies; till at last the distemper of the weather turned the scales to the Turks side. More Christians (thirsty within and scalded without) were killed with the beams the sunne darted then with the arrows the enemies shot. Reinold of Castile was slain, with most of the Templars and Hospitallers. *Besoldus, in Guidone; ex Crusio.Gerard Master of the Templars, and Boniface Marquesse of Montferrat were taken prisoners; and also Guy the King, who saw the rest of his servants slain before his eyes, onelyonly obtaining of Saladine the life of his schoolmaster. Yea, in this battel the flower of the Christian chevalrie was cut down: and what was most lamented, the Crosse (saith Matthew Paris) which freed men from the captivity of their sinnes, was for mens sinnes taken captive. Most impute this overthrow to the Earl of Tripoli, who that day commanded a great part of the Christian army, and is said of some treacherously to have fled away. But when a great action miscarrieth, the blame must be laid on some; and commonly it lighteth on them who formerly have been found false, be it right or wrong: So impossible is it for him who once hath broken his credit by treason, ever to have it perfectly joynted again. It increaseth the suspicion, because this Earl, afterwards found dead in his bed (as some say) was circumcised.
Victorious Saladine, as he had thrown a good cast, played it as well; in a monethmonth conquering Berytus, Biblus, Ptolemais, and all the havens (Tyre excepted) from Sidon to Askelon. He used his conquest with much moderation, giving lives & goods to all, and forcing no Christians to depart their cities, save onelyonly the Latines. This his gentlenesse proceeded from policy, well knowing that if the Christians could not buy their lives cheap, they would sell them deare, and fight it out to the uttermost. Askelon was stout, and would not surrender. Wherefore Saladine, loth with the hazard of so long a siege to check his fortune in the full speed, left it, and went to Jerusalem, as to a place of lesse difficulty and more honour to conquer.