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THE IIISTOKY OE THE ORDER OF [book i.

Whoever takes the pains to scrutinise this chrono-logy minutely, will find it very different from theusual one; but it is to be hoped, he will also find itreposes on the stablest of testimony, to examinewhich put the writer to much trouble, perhapsmore than such small matters merit; but, he flattershimself, it is once for all, and settles them forever.

Renaud’s breach of the truce coinciding (andmost iniquitously was it broken by wicked Chris-tians, avow chroniclers), 1 Saladin sent a circular^ throughout his dominions, summoningevery Mussulman to the holy Avar, and inMay of 1187, marched from Damascus Avith thecaravan for Mecca, and laid siege again to Petra;and his son, marching against Acre, fought the Dayof Sephoria, by Christians called the battle of Naza-reth. And indeed, the spot where it was fought, isonly about five miles to the north-east of Nazareth,into Avhich the two Grand Masters of the Templeand Hospital, with their little escort, had come thatvery evening, on their way to Tiberias, whitherthey were sent on a mission by the JerusalemGovernment. The little village has disappeared,

• Sicardi : 2.—Bib. Crois., ii. 547.