ABEY. I.]

ST. JOHN OF JEBUSALEM.

47

the Christian gained that mighty victory. KingRichard, though he does not say a word about hisown exploits, affirms in his letter that a Saladinhad not suffered a similar defeat those fortyyears . 1

Gardiner’s being there shows that splendid vete-ran was not as yet dead, and it was now within aweek of October.

There the illustrious Jacques d’Avesnes closedhis earthly course at the enemy’s third charge; hehad resisted long, and slaughtered many; but in thethird charge lost one leg and the foot of the other;on which he cried out, Bon Roi Richard , vengezma mort , and, still struggling, slew the Saracenthat rushed on him; and then by a crowd had hisarm cut off, and fell dead with a multitude ofwounds. That Richard and the crusaders buried himnext day with all honours, after having attendedwith tears at his funeral service in the church, inpresence of his corpse, is only as it should be . 2 He,also, was of Norman blood; so that he was notonly a Frenchman, but, in one sense, had a right 3to call Coeur de Lion his countryman. The inter-preter, between Richard and Saladin’s brother, was

1 Mathew Paris : Chron.—Bib. Crois., ii. 796.

2 Vinisauf: 3.—Bib. Crois., ii. 698.—Michaud: Hist., ii. 405.

3 Brompton.—Bib. Crois., ii. 748.