Atop a high rock adjoining the port looms the Tower of Flies, so called because in ancient days it was a place of sacrifice where swarms of flies settled on broken flesh. Acre was then situated at Mount Toron not far distant and was called Ptolmais. They say the ruins of Ptolmais exist to our day. Perhaps. There is a tower called Accursed that surmounts the wall enclosing the city, which earned its name because here were minted those thirty pieces of silver used to betray our Lord. There is a hill called the Mosque that is the sepulcher of Memnon, although no one can say how or why the husk of this great Ethiopian king came to be here. And the little river Belus flowing past Acre is enriched with glassy sand, for which reason Solinus named it a wonder of the world. Close by is a flat rock where Africa, Asia, and Europe meet, three divisions of the world. Now this is Acre toward which streamed eminent Christian princes to confront the tumultuous horde of Saladin. Here came Nargenot du Bourg, Otho de la Fosse, William Goez, Count Richard from Apulia, Engelram de Vienne, Theobald de Bar, Count John from Loegria, Hervey de Gien, Guy de Dampierre, Count Nicholas from Hungary, Count John from Seis with a nephew of the Danish king. Also, chiefs of the Danes and four hundred fighting men. Here came the bishop of Verona. Who does not perceive in this the hand of our Sovereign? Is not His mercy everpresent for those who defend His name?
Divers things indeed befell the host. As April gave place to May there was a pilgrim walking in the trench dug for protection, fitted like a sergeant with iron helmet and folded linen tunic. He had gone looking for weak parts of the wall or to strike an enemy with his sling. For what reason he stopped is not known, but some Turk shot through a loophole and struck him on the breast. They say the dart pierced his quilted doublet and rebounded, all twisted and bent. This was because he carried around his neck a parchment scroll inscribed with the holy names of God. Thus the dart plopped harmlessly to earth leaving him unhurt, which was attested by many that saw the miracle.
Or there was a certain knight hunched in the ditch attending to business when some Turk galloped at him with a lowered lance. Others perceiving his danger cried out for the knight to flee, but all unfastened he could not. Then he clutched a stone that he aimed and threw and struck this enemy on the temple. So the Turk dropped off his horse and broke his neck and died. Then the knight caught the horse, mounted, and rode back to camp. God directs the aim of those who believe.
Again. Ivo de Vipont embarked for Tyre with ten companions but a galley of Turkish pirates went gliding toward them. The mariners were frightened since they counted eighty or ninety Turks. O Lord God! O Lord God! they cried. We will be taken and murdered! But they were rebuked by Ivo de Vipont. Why should you fear those who are about to die? he asked. And when the galley was near to striking them with its beak he leapt on board and set about cutting down pirates with the axe he carried. So his friends gathered up their vitals when they saw his work prosper and clambered into the galley beheading Turks right or left. These Christians proved victorious because they had faith in God who does not know how to be conquered. Muslims honor a faith that is counterfeit.
This also. Beha al-Din, unbeliever and historian, relates how a very great swimmer called Isa would dive under Christian vessels at night to come up on the opposite side where those who were besieged would greet him joyfully since he brought messages and money fastened to his belt. But one night while carrying letters Isa was caught by the Franks. Some days later his body washed ashore, the messages sealed with wax affixed to his belt. Had this Turk labored in the service of God his end would be different.
Or this. Christian fishermen throwing nets just before sunset happened to see a man swimming. They pursued him on their boats and saw he was a Turk who, alarmed by their shouts, tried to escape. But they rowed strongly, caught him in their net, and saw he was carrying a bottle of Greek fire suspended from his neck. So they landed their captive as though he were a fish and led him with his evil mixture through the army, scourging him, reviling him, after which they mangled his body and chopped him apart. Thus does the Lord scatter the counsel of heathen princes, undoing the obliquity they plan.
Now, because of frequent and unexpected sorties by these wicked enemies it was thought to bury foot-traps in the ground. And one day while certain Christians were tossing darts at a mark to amuse themselves here came Turks spurring toward them. Being unarmed and few in number the soldiers of Christ retreated. But one Turk outstripped the rest when his mount stopped short, caught by a trap. So the Turk, considering only his head, leapt off and ran away to his friends. That is how Count Robert de Dreux, whose instrument captured the animal, obtained a fine
