ROGER OF WENDOVER. [A.D. 118Γ. that the Christians had first infringed the treaty, and prepared himself for war and for revenge.* Saladin lays waste the Holy Lami. A. P. 1187. Saladin, inflamed with anger against the Christians, summoned the Parthians, Bedouins, Turks. Saracens, Arabs, Modes, Curds, and Egyptians, and at the head of these nations invaded and laid waste all the Holy Land. Not content with occupying some minor fortresses in Galilee, he prepared to besiege mount Calvary ; and proceeding thither with a variety of warlike engines, he, on his way, defeated a large body of Christians, slew the grand master of the temple and sixty of the brethren, and elated with this success, pressed forwards to the siege. When the king of Jerusalem heard that the city was besieged, and the inhabitants hard-pres*ed, he summoned by proclamation all the strength of his kingdom, leaving none but those who were incapacitated for battle, by their age or sex, to garrison the fortresses. The rendezvous was the fountain of Sephor, and, when they inarched thence, they amounted to twenty thousand warriors. Kaymund count of Tripolis was appointed their commander-in-chief ; and they set out towards Tiberias, and when the fatal day of battle approached, the king's chamberlain dreamed that an eagle flew over the Christian cani]), bearing in his talons seven missiles, and crying aloud, " Woe to you of Jerusalem ! woe to yon of Jerusalem !" In explanation of this vision, it is sufficient to remember the words which the Holy Spirit spake bv the prophet, " The Lord hath bent his bow, and in it hath prepared the vessels of death." Saladin takes the city of Jerusalem and the king's person. Saladin hearing that the king was approaching to raise the siege, bravely marched to meet them, and perceiving that the Christians were hemmed in by the narrow and precipitous rocks, not far from Tiberias, at a place called Martschallia, he rushed with confidence of success upon the king's arm)-, who nevertheless received them bravely as well as the nature of' the ground would permit. The battle raged with fury, and • Matthew Paris ndds that, " the kings of France and Kngland took the cross on the 20th of January ; and that the city and cathedral of Chichester were burned on the l'Jth of October."