Near sunrise, having appointed men to guard the trench against Saladin, these Franks pressed forward. There were bright coats of ring-mail and many a glittering crest. So the Turks lifted a tumult, beating on timbrels and platters and metal basins and shouting to the sky and waving devilish banners to notify Saladin. Almost at once here came his army riding and yelping across the plain, howling in the pagan tongue, brandishing accursed standards, dismounting as they got near the trench. Some carried clubs equipped with spikes, or poignards, and when they got to the barricades there was bloody slaughter. Godfrey de Lusignan picking up an axe slew ten of Mahomet’s filthy disciples. Back and forth they struggled, more and more Turks appearing, until those Franks who went against the wall had to retreat and help their comrades defend the camp. It is said that King Philip became discouraged and confused and would not mount his horse. Without leadership the servants of God did not know what to do. They waited unhappily, wondering how to fight the Lord’s battle. On that day the host suffered greatly.
Also, King Philip had brought from Europe a white falcon which he dearly loved. It escaped from his glove and flew across the wall into Muslim hands. This did not augur well. Philip offered one thousand dinars if they would give it back. They refused because they wished to present the bird to Saladin. Next the count of Flanders died, further disheartening the pilgrim host. Yet is not our Lord minded to be merciful? Here came welcome assistance, bishops and princes, each with his retinue. Jordan de Humez. Earl Robert of Leicester. Radulph Taisson. Gérard de Talebor. Henry fitz Nicholas. Here came William Martel and William Bloez, and Hugh de Fierte who served gallantly in Cyprus, and others. Which is to say, God succored the host while two kings lay indisposed.
Philip was first to regain his strength. He constructed a redoubtable perrier called the bad neighbor, Male Voisine, which struck night and day because the walls of Acre are such that carts may pass one another on the ramparts, making it no easy thing to breach. The duke of Burgundy set up a perrier that inflicted severe damage and made the slaves of Allah scurry about. There was one called Perrier of God because of a priest who stood beside it preaching, which shook the tower Maudite. Others manned by Templars and Hospitalers never ceased, never quit hurling, such as the Sling of God. Yet the Turks replied with a machine the Franks called Male Cousine, bad cousin to a bad neighbor. Philip directed miners to dig at the ground beneath Maudite, which already they had battered. But the Turks thought to confront them and obliged captives to dig a countermine held up with stanchions. Yet when these parties met in darkness beneath the tower they did not fight because the shackled captives were Christian who spoke to the Franks in their mutual language to such good effect that some got through the tunnel and escaped. This mightily annoyed the Saracens.
Next occurred a great deed. A Frank of prodigious size gained the ramparts. Others brought him stones to throw, and although he was wounded fifty times and drenched with blood the Turks could not drive him off or kill him until a bottle of naphtha exploded on him and made him a torch.
Here, too, was a very great deed performed by Aubry Clément, Marshal of France. If it please God, he was heard to cry, before sunset I will die or stand within the walls of Acre!
Then up the ladder he went and Turks rushing noisily against him. Franks who climbed up after him overburdened the ladder, which broke and tumbled them in a ditch, bruising some to death while others lay hapless, groaning and bleeding. Marshal Aubry, pierced a thousand times, ascended gloriously to the arms of Christ with Allah’s subjects capering about the turrets, hooting, whistling. So did he verify himself, according to Geoffrey de Vinsauf. Others say he did not freely attack the wall but was caught and dragged to martyrdom by a Saracen grappling hook. Be that as it may, a chanson forever celebrates the name of Aubry Clément.
And now King Richard, very weak, wrapped in a silken quilt, caused himself to be carried forward because he wished to do what mischief he could. From the ditch, swaddled in his quilt, he let fly many a crossbow dart. They say he was skillful. A Turk dared show himself on the ramparts dressed in the armor of Marshal Clément, which proved his last boast. Richard shot a bolt through his heart. The Turk threw up his feet and died.
We are told that Saladin and Richard felt warmly toward each other. While the Christian monarch lay ill, wasted, fingernails loose on his fingers, hair dropping from his brow, and whispers of poison, he despatched an envoy to the sultan. King Richard wished to make it known that since kings are wont to exchange gifts, even during time of war, a gift would be delivered if it should please the sultan. Malik al-Adil answered for his brother that a gift would be welcome if something might be given in return.
We have with us falcons, said Richard’s envoy, as well as other birds of prey, but on the voyage they suffered and are dying. If you will give us chickens to feed them we will offer them as homage to the sultan when they have been restored to health.
We give you what you ask, Malik answered, because we know that your king is ill and requires chickens for his health.
Subsequently, when Richard wanted fresh fruit
