Free A History of the Crusades-Vol 3 by Steven Runciman Page A

massacre of the twenty-seven hundred
survivors of the garrison at Acre. His soldiers gave themselves eagerly to the
task of butchery, thanking God, so Richard’s apologists gleefully tell us, for
this opportunity to avenge their comrades who had fallen before the city. The
prisoners’ wives and children were killed at their side. Only a few notables
and a few men strong enough to be of use for slave-labour were spared. The
Saracen outposts nearest to Acre saw what was being done and rushed up to save
their countrymen, but though they fought till nightfall they could not
penetrate through to them. When the slaughter was over the English left the
spot with its mutilated and decaying corpses; and the Moslems could come and
recognize their martyred friends.
    On Thursday, 22 August, Richard led the
Crusading army out of Acre. Conrad and many of the local barons were absent,
and the French, under the Duke of Burgundy, followed grudgingly in the rear.
None of the soldiers had wanted to leave the city where they had lived so
comfortably for the last month, with food in plenty and wanton women to gratify
their lusts; nor were they pleased to hear that the only female camp-followers
permitted to march with them were washerwomen. But the force of Richard’s
personality overrode them. Saladin was still at Shafr’amr, commanding the two
main roads from the coast, the road to Tiberias and Damascus and the road
through Nazareth to Jerusalem. But Richard moved south along the coast road,
where his flank would be protected by the sea and his fleet. The Sultan
therefore followed him on a parallel course and encamped at Tel-Kaimun, on the
slopes of Carmel. From there he rode out to inspect the country by the shore
south of Carmel, to choose a site for a battle.
    1191: The Battle of Arsuf
    The Christians journeyed past Haifa which
Saladin had dismantled shortly before the fall of Acre, and round the spur of
Carmel. Their progress was slow, to let the fleet keep up with them; and
Richard believed that the soldiers should be allowed to rest almost every other
day. For the wind was in the west, and the ships had difficulty in rounding the
point. Saracen light horsemen from time to time swooped down from Carmel on the
marching army, cutting off stragglers, who were taken to Saladin,
cross-questioned and then slain, in vengeance for the massacre at Acre. Only
the washerwomen were spared. Meanwhile Richard led his main army over the ridge
of Carmel and encamped inland from Caesarea.
    On the 30th the two armies came into closer
contact, as the Christians approached Caesarea. Thenceforward there was sharp
fighting every day. But Richard led his army doggedly on. He was at his best,
usually fighting in the van, but now and then riding down the whole line to
encourage the men onward. The heat was intense, and the Westerners, heavily
armed and unused to the sun, lost many lives from sunstroke, and many fainted
and were killed where they lay. The Duke of Burgundy and the French troops were
nearly annihilated as they lagged in the rear, behind the provision-wagons, but
they extricated themselves. The whole host trudged steadily on, crying out at
intervals the prayer, Sanctum Sepulchrum adjuva, ‘Help us, Holy
Sepulchre’.
    A few days later Saladin chose his
battle-ground. It was to be just north of Arsuf, where the plain was wide
enough for the use of cavalry but well veiled by the forests which came down
within two miles of the sea. On 5 September, Richard asked for a parley, and
met the Sultan’s brother, al-Adil, under a flag of truce. But, weary though he
was of fighting, he demanded nothing less than the cession of all Palestine.
Al-Adil at once broke off the negotiation.
    On Saturday morning, 7 September, it was
clear to Richard that the Moslems were going to force a battle, and he drew up
his men in preparation. The baggage train was spread out along the coast, with
Henry of Champagne and part of the infantry to guard them. The bowmen were