from which cause great slaughter often ensued iu both armies. King Richard, therefore, after he had l'orti tied the cities above named, returned in triumph to Acre.* lint this account which we have given will be more clearly understood by our giving the letter which Richard sent to Walter archbishop of Rouen, on this same subject. "Richard, by the grace of God, king of England, &c.—Know that our lord the king of the French, has returned home; and we, after repairing the damage and breaches of the city of Acre, in order to promote the Christian cause, and to fulfil the purpose of our vow, marched to Joppa, in company with the duke of Burgundy and his French followers, count Henry and his troops, and many other counts and barons. Whereas between Acre and Joppa the country is extensive and the way long ; we at length, with much sweat and toil, came down to Cajsarea ; Saladin too lost several of hirjjbllowers in this same march. When the army of God had rested some time at Joppa, we set out again on our proposed march ; and when our advanced guard had gone forward and was pitching the camp near Assur, Saladin, with a large host of pagans, made an attack on our rear guard ; but, by the divine favour, though only four battalions were opposed to him face to face, he was put to flight ; they pursued him for one league, and made such a slaughter of the Saracen nobles on that day, St. Mary's eve, at Assur, as Saladin for forty years past has not in one day sustained. After this, under God's guidance, wc came to the city of Joppa, and strengthened it with trenches and walls; it being our purpose, wherever we could reach, to promote the cause of Christianity as much as lay in our power. Saladin, indeed, since the day of the above mentioned discomfiture, has not dared to come to a close engagement with the Christians, but secretly lays snares for destroying the friends of the cross, as a lion in his den awaits * Matthew Paris gives (his sentence as follows :— " Severe conflicts however continually took place, in consequence of Saladin's continually hovering on the Christian army. Thus the king returned triumphant to Acre, and after a few days went to Joppa, not far from Ctcsarea, where he gave SaJadin η disgraceful defeat, and obtained a glorious victory. He then K-stowed the kingdom of Jerusalem on his nephew Henry, together with the widow of the marquis of Montferrut for a wife. At the same time he redeemed for a large sum of money the relies of many saints, which Saladin had taken."