A.i). 1)01. ] niciiAuiVs MILITARY SUCCESS. JOT the followers of the French king, on account of the aim.-' and harassing treatment of the English by his army. Ticking of the French, therefore, seeing that the people of dilfcrent countries, who had (locked to the Holy Land, placed themselves under the command of king Richard, and that the fame of the hitter's prowess increased daily, because lie was better supplied with money, more profuse in bestowing gift.-, possessed of a larger army, and was braver in attacking his enemies, thought that the fame of his own prowess waditunied by that of another's, and was therefore in greater haste to embark. In addition to these reasons, he wished to possess himself of the territory of the count of Flanders, who had lately died: therefore after be had pledged his oath not to invade the territories of the English king or of the chiefs, who remained with him, he took his departure. King Richard theji caused the trenches and breaches in the walls of Acre to be repaired, and fortified it with men and anus. Of king Richard's progress. After these events, on the eve of the assumption of the blessed Mary, king Richard, with his fellow warriors, led the way from the gates of Acre, and boldly set out on his inarch to besiege and take the cities on the sea coast ; and Inordered his camp to be pitched near and in sight of Saladino army, at the place where he had caused the two thousand six hundred of the Saracens, whom the two kings had taken prisoners at l'tolemais, to be beheaded, as has been before related. When the report of this event reached the Saracens, who occupied the maritime cities, they were alarmed lest the king in his auger should inflict on them a similar punishment to that of the I'tolemaidans, and having no confidence in Saladiu's assisting them, since he had refused to pay what was demanded of him lor the ransom of the others, they evacuated their cities and fled immediately on hearing of tin' approach of the king. This was the ease with the inhabitants of Oaiphas, Ca-sarea, Assur, .loppa, Gaza, and Asealon. and thus, by the will of God, hll the maritime district in that part of the country fell into the bauds of the Christians. This did not however result without some severe fighting, for the army of Salatini followed closely on tic Christian flanks, and in the defiles dreadfully harassed flic out-posts,