Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/360

324 Readings in European History from the sea. Our princes had commanded a fortress to be built; Before one of the city gates which was between our camp and the sea; for the Turks, issuing daily from this gate, killed some of our men on their way to the sea. For this reason they sent the excellent Bohemond and Raymond, qount of St. Gilles, down to the sea, with only sixty horse- men, in order that they might bring mariners to aid in this work. When, however, they were returning to us with thoe mariners, the Turks collected an army, fell suddenly upon our two leaders, and forced them to a perilous flight. Irt jthat unexpected flight we lost more than five hundred of our fppt soldiers to the glory of God. Of our horsemen, However, we lost only two, for certain. On that same day, ignorant of our brethren's misfortunes, we went out joyfully to meet them. When, however, we approached the above-rnentioned gate of the city, a mass of horsemen and foot soldiers from Antioch, elated by the vic- tory which they had won, rushed upon us in the same man- ner. Seeing these, our leaders sent to the camp of the Christians to order all to be ready to follow us into battle. In the meantime our men gathered together, and the two leaders, namely Bohemond and Raymond, with the remain- der of their army, came up and narrated the great misfortune which they had suffered. Our men, full of fury at these most evil tidings, prepared to die for Christ, and, deeply grieved for their brethren, rushed upon the sacrilegious Turks. They, enemies of God and of us, hastily fled before us and attempted to enter their city. But by God's grace the affair turned out very, differ- ently; for, when they attempted to cross a bridge built over the great river Moscholum, we followed them as closely as possible, killed many before they reached the bridge, forced many into the river, all of whom were killled, and we also slew many upon the bridge and very many at the narrow entrance to the gate. I am telling you the truth, my beloved, and you may rely upon it, that in this battle we killed thirty emirs (that is, princes) and three hundred other Turkish nobles, not counting the remaining Turks and pagans. Indeed, the