CHAP. III.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

199

1113

and left their native place to Baldwin. 1 AnotherMahometan prince had to purchase peace withtwenty thousand pieces of gold and ten horses.The Mahometan Prince of Aleppo engaged tobecome tributary to the Frank Prince of Antioch,at ten thousand pieces of gold a-year; and afterTancred’s death, 2 the money continued to be paidto a child. Baldwin in 1112, besieged Tyre; andwithout taking it, advanced against Damascus, andinto the Haraoun, and wrapping all in fire andblood, retreated towards Jerusalem, uponTogdekin’s application for succour to Mous-sul. And on its arrival, a great battle ensued, inwhich Ibngiouzi says the Franks lost two thousandmen, and that King Baldwin escaped with difficulty,and without his sword. The fact appears to be,that the Franks only removed to a good position ;and that the Mahometans, by disease, the heats,famine, and severe fighting, were kept off for twenty-six days, and on a reinforcement coming fromAntioch, were completely routed near Tiberias. 3Passing through Damascus, the Moussul leaderwas murdered in the mosque there by the Assassins,“ but I say,” writes Abulfeda, “ that it was thetraitor of an Atabec sent the murderer. And I was

1 Arab. Cbron. : 27.3 Id.: 32.

2 Id. : . 31.