Now here came the youthful prince of Antioch into camp, accompanied by his mother. King Louis honored them and ceremoniously dubbed the boy a knight and gave leave to quarter his arms, which are gules, with the arms of France. In their company three minstrels from Armenia, brothers on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. These minstrels played horns so devised that the music seemed to issue not in front but from aside. They played such melodious and graceful tunes that people were reminded of swans on a lake. Also, they knew how to flip themselves over while standing on a mat. They could do this backward and forward, but the eldest would pause to cross himself before turning the somersault forward.
King Louis was informed that if he wished to visit Jerusalem the sultan of Damascus would guarantee safe passage. Not one counselor advised his majesty to go since he would be obliged to leave it in Saracen hands. They spoke of King Richard sixty years earlier. They repeated the story, how one of Richard’s knights shouted for him to come and behold Jerusalem. But he would not. He shielded his eyes, he wept bitterly and cried aloud. Dear God, suffer me not to see the Holy City for I cannot reclaim it! The counselors mentioned this because, they said, if his majesty should make the pilgrimage and return to France without loosening the Saracen grip, those who came later would feel satisfied to do no more. If he took this counsel to heart or some other reason prevailed, I do not know, but he remained at Joppa.
Anon the sultan’s rage against those emirs who chased his cousin Turanshah into the Nile and butchered him like a pig caused him to march against Egypt. I have heard they fought savagely, gaining little here or there. The sultan boasted of victory yet with such losses that he returned to Gaza, he himself injured in the head and one hand. We observed his army withdraw, passing our camp less than two leagues distant, avoiding it as the traveler avoids the hedgehog. With the sultan, we estimated, went twenty thousand Turks and ten thousand Bedouin. We kept narrow watch.
This Turkish horde came next to Acre and threatened to ravage the gardens unless they got fifty thousand gold bezants. The lord of Arsuf, who was constable, answered that he would give them none. So they arrayed themselves to prepare a siege. Forth came the lord of Arsuf and took his position on Mount Saint John by the cemetery of Saint Nicholas to defend the gardens. Foot sergeants also ventured from the city to harass the Turks with bows and crossbows, but did not adequately consider the situation. The lord of Arsuf therefore directed a Genoese knight called Giannone to recall them. He was herding them toward safety when a Turk cried out in Saracenic, offering to joust with him, had he courage enough. Sir Giannone answered that quite willingly would he take the challenge. But as he was riding against this enemy he saw to his left a troop of eight or nine who had paused to watch the joust. He swerved toward them and skewered one. Another struck his steel cap a huge blow with a mace, whereupon Giannone drew his sword and there went the Saracen’s turban flying off his head. Another Turk he slashed backhand so the enemy’s spear flew off into the field. Then he brought back the imperiled sergeants. These fine strokes were observed by the lord of Arsuf, by important citizens, and by women who gathered on the walls to watch.
Next the infidels marched toward Saida, which they heard was poorly fortified. Lord Simon de Montbéliard, who had charge of his majesty’s crossbowmen, retreated into the castle because he could not oppose such a multitude. We were told that he admitted to safety as many citizens as he could. The Turks got into Saida, butchered every inhabitant, and made off to Damascus with plunder. King Louis had wished to fortify some hillock that was a stronghold of Maccabees in ancient times, but hearing this sad news, hearing the barons argue against restoring a crumbled ruin, he decided we should go to Saida. Accordingly we broke camp on the feast day of Peter and Paul and some days afterward came to the sands of Acre. While we were bivouacked a troop of Armenians showed up. They had with them an interpreter so we learned they were en route to Jerusalem, having paid the Turks heavy tribute. They wanted a good look at our king. I therefore went and found him in a pavilion sitting on the sand without a carpet beneath his rump, resting his back against the pole. I explained about the Armenians waiting outside, how they besought me to let them glimpse our pious leader. For myself, I said, I have no desire to kiss your bones. He began to laugh and told me to bring them in, which I did. When they had their fill of gazing at King Louis they commended him to God. He, with inherent grace, returned the blessing.
Next night we camped by a ford with excellent water. People of that region use it to nourish sugar plants. Next we camped by Es Sur, which the Bible calls Tyre, and King Louis asked if we should capture the city of Banyas before continuing to Saida. The barons liked this idea but none wanted the king himself to join such a dangerous expedition. Only after much argument could he be dissuaded. Knights of the Temple and Hospital were chosen, along with the Comte d’Eu, Philippe de Montfort, Gilles le Brun, myself, and various others. We rode all night and got to Banyas just before dawn. Ancients called this place
