1 8 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book r.

menaced him with what does him vast honour. Forhe had to resist not only the three chief monarchsof Europe—Germany, France, and England—oneled by Barbarossa, and one by Cosur de Lion , andthe other, by a name very properly dear to France,Philip Augustus —but all Christendom; for Italians,Spaniards, Flemings, Swedes, Friezlanders, Portu-guese, and others, composed it. They had Ma-hometans at home, hut nevertheless Ebro andMondego sent several to be Templars and Hospi-tallers ; besides who was the Green Knight ? Saladinmight hold his head high; for he, risen from aprivate station, had to contend with all Europe,led by renowned warriors, to be conquered by anyone of whom would have been a credit to anymember of the military profession, alive or dead.

But seeing the crusade delayed, Saladin movedabout, and in five weeks occupied Laoclicea andTortosa, and the iron bridge near Antioch, and allalong the Orontes, and several places ; yet avoidedMarcab (say the Moslems themselves), for it ap-peared impregnable, and belonged to the Hospi-tallers, who were sure to defend it ably, which is ajust tribute to those heroes, but may be fairly at-tributed to a wish in Saladin to preserve his armyentire for the coming foe; though his prudencemust have been pain to his self-love, for Marcab lay

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