128 THE BATTLE OF ARSOUF. 



slowly followed the onset, encircled by Norman and 

 English warriors, and the wounded and fatigued were 

 brought round it for shelter. A last effort was made 

 by the most resolute Saracens, twenty thousand strong, 

 who poured in upon this part of the army and endeavour- 

 ed to capture the banner. Although there were nearly 

 100,000 men in the crusade, the infantry masses were 

 mostly in position near Arsouf, and the cavalry horses 

 were blown and scattered ; but the yell of the enemy 

 brought Richard and his gallant companion Desbarres 

 again forward, here a most sanguinary melee ensued, 

 and it required desperate efforts to drive the enemy fi- 

 nally out of a field, where they left during the last 

 struggle an extraordinary number of slain . Boha-eddin 

 feelingly denominates the conflict, a heart breaker to 

 the musslemen, several thousand are driven over a pre- 

 cipice. After the defeat of the enemy was complete, 

 the chivalry formed again, and covered the rear and the 

 earrochio, till the whole entered Arsouf. The Knights 

 templars and hospitalers then went to seek for the 

 chiefs that were missing and found James of Avesnes, 

 with his kinsmen under a heap of enemies, many of 

 whom Richard himself had cut down in trying to save 

 the veterans life ; their bodies were taken up and 

 honorably committed to the grave, while the army sent 

 out parties to plunder the enemy's camp which was left 

 standing, and also to rifle the bodies of an immense 

 number of what Boha-eddin calls Martyrs. Next day 

 Saladin in despair orderered thirteen cities and castles 

 to be dismantled because he could no longer defend 

 them ; these were the castles of Mirabel or Mirleu, 

 Calaphin, Seraye, Arsouf, Jaffa, Touroun or Daioun, 

 castel Pelegrin, Lafere, St. George de Reyn Belheni, 

 Maiden Castle and Aukesland, but it is evident that 

 the orders must have been given at an earlier date. 



