A.lì. USI.] SAI.ADIX RAVAGES SEVERAL CITIES. /low Saladin the sultan of llabylon, destroyed several cities of the Christians. At this time, Saladin sultan of Damascus had subdued all the Saracenic kings throughout the east, so that he might truly be called king of kings and lord of lords, and nowpurposing to subdue all Christendom also, he passed the river Jordan at the beginning of July, and foraged for provisions the country round the castle of Crach, formerly called l'etra in the desert, lie then passed on to the town of Neapolis, which he plundered, and afterwards burned. At Sebastiea, the bishop ransomed the city and church by giving ii] to hirn eighty captives; and Saladin, proceeding into Arabia, devastated that country, and carried off both men and women for slaves. From thence he proceeded to the eastle of Great Gerin, which he destroyed, and, except a few whom he made prisoners, he slew both men and women. Little Gerin, a village belonging to the temple, shared the same fate, after which the Saracenic army retired by way of Belvcrc, a castle belonging to the temple, slaying some of the people, and carrying off the others as captives. Tile king of England elected king of Jerusalem. Baldwin, the leprous king of Jerusalem, being at last dead, Baldwin, a boy of live years old, reigned in his place, lie was nephew to the late king, by Sibylla his sister, and William marquis of Montferrat, and immediately after his coronation was placed under the tuition of Raymund count of Tripolis. lì ut the clergy and people, seeing the kingdom now reduced to a state, which could not long be maintained, began seriously to consider what stops were to be taken ; and, as they entertained suspicions that Saladin would not long remain inactive, and had little to hope from the tender years of the king, they all agreed to scud ambassadors to I Iran king of England, and offer to him the kingdom of Jerusalem, with the keys of the holy city and of our lord's tomb. Ileraclius the patriarch, at their request, undertook this embassy, and in company with the master of the temple and some others, crossed the Mediterranean sea, and arriving at Rome, obtained letters from pope Lucius, praying the king of England to grant their request.