52 SIEGE AND BATTLE OF JAFFA. 



beard, for while they were still discussing some point 

 of their own interest, the dawn of day began to appear, 

 and a Genouese, as Vinesalf says, or an attendant on 

 the king's person, as others relate, (but what is asto- 

 nishing, not a sentinel, nor a scout,) accidentally going 

 out of the lines, discovered the enemy at a small dis- 

 tance and instantly cried to arms — " as armes gave, or 

 sus or sus r The king sprang out of bed and hastily 

 buckled on his armour: there was scarcely time to 

 dress before the enemy appeared ; but, being discover- 

 ed, they stole back again towards the columns of 

 regulars destined to support them, which were now 

 seen advancing. During the few moments that were 

 left, while the enemy's horse moved cautiously in the 

 twihght through the broken ground, to occupy their 

 stations of attack, the king distributed the ten horses, 

 all that had been preserved or captured in the re-taking 

 of Jaffa ; and, although they were scarcely fit to bear 

 a knight clad in armour, he mounted one, and left the 

 other nine to be ridden by Robert earl of Leicester, 

 Bartholomew de Mortimer, Ralph de Mauley, Andrew 

 de Chavigny, Gerald de Furnival, Roger de Lacy, 

 Will de la Pool or de TEstang, Hugh de Newton or 

 de Villa nova, and Henry Todeny or the Teutonic who 

 bore the royal standard. At the same time the in- 

 fantry and dismounted knights formed in companies, 

 headed by proper leaders; some faced towards the 

 sea, others were posted on the left, towards the church 

 of St. Nicholas, whither the enemy was extending, 

 and the Pisans and Genouese were stationed in the gar- 

 dens about the town, to cover it from attack. 



The roaring cry of battle and invocation to the 

 prophet began to resound from the enemy's masses, as 

 they took their ground on three sides of the English 

 troop, which received orders to drop on the right knee 

 and fix the butt end of their spears in the ground with 

 their right hand, while the left held up the point to re- 

 ceive the charge : between two spears, and covered by 

 the spearmen's shields, either archers or two men 

 with a cross-bow were placed, one to aim and dis- 



