Geoffrey de Vinsauf relates how the king’s chamberlain had a vision. He dreamt of an eagle flying past the army, in its talons seven missiles and a ballista, and the prophetic bird cried with a loud voice.
Woe unto thee, Jerusalem!
What is this if not fulfillment of Scripture? It is written how the Lord hath bent His bow and in it prepared the vessels of death. What are these missiles but seven sins by which the Franks should perish?
Saladin besieged Tiberias and stormed the lower town, which could not hold. Then the wife of Count Raymond, Eschiva, fled to the citadel. It is what Saladin expected and what he wished, believing in his heart that Count Raymond would try impetuously to save his wife. Indeed, when news reached the army that Countess Eschiva with her attendants had locked themselves in the citadel a huge cry went up. Templars, Hospitalers, sergeants, pilgrims, all demanded that they march upon Tiberias. Accordingly they proceeded to Saphori and bivouacked for the night. Although they found good water it is said the pack animals refused to drink and behaved like grieving men. Now a dispute arose between Count Raymond and King Guy.
Sire, I would give counsel, said Raymond, but you will not heed me.
Speak on, the king replied.
Let the citadel be taken. Tiberias is mine. The lady of Tiberias is my countess. Yet I would rather see Tiberias razed to the ground, my wife enslaved, my soldiers killed, than to know the Holy Land was lost forever. If we march against Tiberias we must be defeated. Here is why. Between us and Tiberias there is but one spring of water, at Cresson, which is by no means enough. So what will become of men and horses? They will go mad with thirst. And next day the Saracens will take us. For in the past I have seen many a Saracen army, but none so numerous or powerful as that which Saladin commands this day.
You would frighten us, said Reynauld de Chatillon. You would frighten us because you prefer their company to ours. For myself, I say the fire is not dismayed by the amount of wood to burn.
I am one of you, Count Raymond answered. I will fight at your side, but Saladin will take us.
Gérard de Ridfort, Grand Master of the Temple, spoke angrily. I smell a wolf, said he. For a long time Gérard de Ridfort had nourished himself on hatred of Count Raymond. When he arrived in the Holy Land he at first took service with Raymond, who promised him some heiress for a wife as God so determined. Presently the lord of Botron expired, leaving all to his daughter Lucia, and Gérard put forth his claim. But here came a merchant from Pisa, by name Plivano, who admired the shape of Lucia and offered Count Raymond her weight in gold and made her step on a balance, heaping gold on the opposite scale until her value was calculated at ten thousand bezants. As this seemed good to Count Raymond, he granted her to Plivano. So then Gérard de Ridfort left his service to become a Templar but did not forgive the insult. Now at this extremity, encircled by a Muslim host, Gérard crept into the royal tent near midnight to admonish King Guy.
Count Raymond has made a pact with our enemies, said he.
The king, rotted by misgiving, did not know what to do since he would believe whoever spoke to him last. And when a call to arms sounded in the depth of night the Frankish barons asked one another the purpose. Wondering, dumbfounded, looking at each other in surprise, they hurried to the royal tent. King Guy would not explain why he sounded the call, saying only that they must obey.
At dawn the Frankish host marched away from Saphori, hearts fixed upon Tiberias. The bishop of Acre, escorted by priests and monks, held upright the Holy Cross sheathed in gold encrusted with jewels so that all might draw comfort and strength from the presence of our Lord. Since the day King Baldwin first carried the cross to victory at Ramlah it had accompanied the knighthood of Christ.
Anon, they overtook some hag riding a donkey and when they asked where she was going she would not answer. When they threatened her she admitted to being the slave of a Syrian in Nazareth and was going to ask Saladin for a reward, considering the service she had rendered. They tortured her to learn what service this was. Then she admitted to being a sorceress who had cast a spell on the host, having for two nights encircled the army and cast her spells by the devil. Had they not marched away she would have bound them so close that Saladin would take every one. A fire was kindled of thorns and couch grass, the hag thrown in. She hopped out. They tossed her into the flame again. Nimbly she hopped out. Then a sergeant with a Danish axe struck her such a blow on the skull as to cleave her almost in half. A third time she was tossed in the fire. It is related that when Saladin heard of this he felt dismayed because he would have ransomed her.
And learning how the army moved upon Tiberias he rejoiced, for the day would be hot. He was heard to say that Allah delivered these Christians into his hands and scarcely controlled his glee, knowing they would not find water. Therefore he waited in comfort along the pleasant shore of Lake Tiberias.
By midafternoon the Franks had climbed to a rock-strewn plateau between two summits that are called the Horns of Hattin. They could see the ground fall steeply away toward the village and the lake and a luxuriant plain with fruit orchards. Word arrived from Templars behind the army that they were troubled by Muslim cavalry and could ride no further. Certain lords urged
