Now this Kurd from Mesopotamia, having got what he wanted, puffed with success, declared Mahomet’s wisdom superior to that of Christ by virtue of victories on the field. All such vaunts he flung at Christian faces. Yet one true believer thought to answer wisely. God, having judged His children deserving of reproof, selected thee as agent. Likewise a father may pluck a cudgel from the mire to chastise an errant son but afterward throw it back.
As to what response the sultan offered, histories are mute.
He sent to Damascus for his sister, she whose caravan Reynauld de Chatillon imprudently seized, to come and worship with him. She loaded up twenty camels with rose water and rode to Jerusalem. These people believe that whoever eats the flesh of a pig is unfit to enter the house of God, hence she would not go into the temple, nor would he, until their priests washed it with rose water much as Christians purify churches that have been violated. Then he commanded Mahomet’s erroneous law to be proclaimed from all four corners. So the Holy City that basked in the light of true believers was contaminated by filth.
Ambroise the jongleur relates that two very ancient men lived in the city, Robert de Coudre and Fulk Fiole. The first had served with Godfrey de Bouillon during the conquest. Fulk Fiole was born in Jerusalem not long afterward. Since both were feeble they asked Saladin to let them complete their lives in the city. This request he granted, directing that they be given whatever they needed as long as they lived. And he permitted ten brothers of the Hospital to remain for one year to attend any who were ill. He listened to the pleas of women whose husbands were slain, had them compensated from his treasury, wept as they wept. Therefore it should be remarked that the spirit of charity is not limited to Christians.
Lady Étienne de Kerak beseeched him to release her son Humphrey. Saladin agreed, provided she would surrender her two great castles of Kerak and Montréal. When she accepted this offer he brought Humphrey out of prison and sent the young lord to his mother. But the knights of Kerak and Montréal refused to obey Lady Étienne, declaring they would not surrender. Then because she was unable to keep her promise she ordered her son back into captivity. Such honorable conduct delighted Saladin who for a second time released Humphrey.
As for indigent captives unable to pay ransom, a multitude reckoned at fourteen thousand and more, Geoffrey de Vinsauf reports that all were enslaved. Malik al-Adil, troubled by this many bound for servitude, addressed his brother. I have helped you conquer this land and the city of Jerusalem, said he. I ask that you grant me one thousand from among the poor.
What would you do with them? Saladin asked.
How Malik replied is not known, but Saladin consented. Malik set these people free.
Now here came Lord Balian and the patriarch with similar requests in the name of God, for the sake of miserable paupers. Saladin gave up two thousand more. And it is said he gave ten thousand to the Hospitalers and Templars. But he wished to surpass the charity of his brother so he ordered a postern near Saint Lazarus to be opened and sent heralds to announce that those without money could leave through this gate. Among these was an Englishman carrying a stick across his shoulder and tied to the stick was a gourd, whereupon a Saracen monk cried out angrily. Look! The pig leaves with a gourd of wine! The monk smashed the gourd, which spewed forth gold coins. In this way Saladin heard about rich Christians trying to escape. Thenceforth nobody could leave without paying ransom.
Here came Lord Balian and the patriarch once again. Sire, they beseeched him, for love of God hold us captive until money is found to liberate the poor. But he was annoyed on account of the deceitful Englishman and would not discuss it.
By each gate stood a Saracen official to collect tribute, yet many of these pocketed what they were given. Also, here were citizens hoping to keep their money who slid down the walls on ropes or escaped by other means, such as disguising themselves as soldiers or hiding in baggage carts. Hence there was confusion at every gate.
Things that deviate from their course fall back into order, albeit not as we expect. Margaret of Beverley was in Jerusalem when Saladin attacked. She carried water to men fighting on the ramparts and wore a cooking pot on her head for protection, all the same she was hurt when a stone from a Saracen catapult struck nearby. Afterward she bought her freedom and set out for Lachis. En route she was caught by Turks. They beat her with switches and forced her to gather wood until a pious man celebrating the birth of a son bought her freedom a second time. Again she set forth, one bread roll to eat and a ragged gown to hide her nakedness, dreading heathen no less than savage animals, her only comfort a psalter. She met a Turk who snatched away the psalter but came running back to fling himself at her feet in remorse, which proves the mighty arm of God. Close by Antioch the unbelievers caught her again and put her in a cell with others speaking parthica lingua, which is to say a language she could not understand. They condemned her to death because they thought she had stolen a knife. But the Turkish commandant listened to her praying, recognized the holy name of Mary and let her go. Anon she came to France where she found her brother who was a monk at Froimont. He did not know her until she spoke of their brother who died soon after baptism, their parents Hulnon and Sybil,
