Yet they gave welnigh a valuable consideration for their vi∣ctory, the master of the Hospitallers being slain; and a brave Generall in battel never dieth unattended.
Saladine hereupon raiseth his siege; and Reimund Earl of Tripoli, whether out of fear the Christians might prevail, or remorse of conscience, or discontent, not finding that respect he expected of Saladine (who had learned that politick maxime, To give some honour, no trust to a fugitive) reconciled himself to King Guy; and sory for his former offense, returned to the Christians.
King Guy hereupon gathering the whole strength of his weak Kingdome to do their last devoir, determined to bid Sa∣ladine battel; though having but fifteen hundred horse and fif∣teen thousand foot, against an hundred and twenty thousand horse and an hundred and sixty thousand foot. Nigh Tiberias the battel was fought: They close in the afternoon; but night moderating betwixt them, both sides drew their stakes till next morning: then on afresh. The Christians valour poised the number of their enemies; till at last the distemper of the wea∣ther turned the scales to the Turks side. More Christians (thirsty within and scalded without) were killed with the beams the sunne darted then with the arrows the enemies shot. Reinold of Castile was slain, with most of the Templars and Hospitallers. Gerard Master of the Templars, and Boniface Marquesse of Montferrat were taken prisoners; and also Guy the King, who saw the rest of his servants slain before his eyes, onely obtaining of Saladine the life of his schoolmaster. Yea, in this battel the flower of the Christian chevalrie was cut down: and what was most lamented, the Crosse (saith Matthew Paris) which freed men from the captivity of their sinnes, was for mens sinnes ta∣ken captive. Most impute this overthrow to the Earl of Tripoli, who that day commanded a great part of the Christian army, and is said of some treacherously to have fled away. But when a great action miscarrieth, the blame must be laid on some; and commonly it lighteth on them who formerly have been found false, be it right or wrong: So impossible is it for him who once hath broken his credit by treason, ever to have it perfectly joynted again. It increaseth the suspicion, because this Earl, af∣terwards found dead in his bed (as some say) was circumcised.
Victorious Saladine, as he had thrown a good cast, played it as well; in a moneth conquering Berytus, Biblus, Ptolemais, and all the havens (Tyre excepted) from Sidon to Askelon. He used his conquest with much moderation, giving lives & goods to all, and forcing no Christians to depart their cities, save onely the Latines. This his gentlenesse proceeded from policy, well know∣ing that if the Christians could not buy their lives cheap, they