46 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book I.

defensive, wait the enemy’s charge. It was tremen-dous, but vain. The Moslem called the Franks anation of iron. 1 At a signal of six trumpets, twoat the right, two at the centre, and two at the left(but not before), they might advance. The Moslemdid all they could to make them break their ranks.One of Saladin’s bravest officers exposed his ownlife to sacrifice by insulting the Christians, andeven striking some of them; but was allowedto return alive, and without one word of answer.The Grand Master of the Hospitallers then rode upto Richard, and expostulated with him on theslaughter of several of his knights in that tryingmanner; and that it would be out of his power torestrain them any longer. To which Richard re-plied that he could not be everywhere at once, andthat the Hospitallers must remain even as theywere. And at Gardiner’s return, every one beheldwith admiration the quiet magnanimity of thatglorious confraternity under every form of threats,danger and death. At last two other knights, heroesnot under as rigorous discipline as those of theHospital, charged, at which the Hospitallers fol-lowed; and probably the trumpets had blown, forCoeur de Lion came on a gallop to join them, and

1 Michaud.: Hist., ii. 402.