FALL OF TEE CITY. 357 sideration and I will try to get from the Temple, the Hospitallers, and the bourgeois, as much as will deliver all.' Saladin said that he would willingly have consideration, and that a hundred thousand byzants should let all the poor go free. ' Sire,' said Balian, ' when all those who are able have ransomed themselves, there will not be left half of the ransom which you demand for the poor.' Saladin said that it should not be otherwise. Then Balian bethought him that he should not make so cheap a bargain by ransoming all together as if he ransomed part at a time, and that by the help of God he might get the rest at a cheaper rate. Then he asked Saladin for how much he would deliver seven thousand men. ' For fifty thousand byzants.' 'Sire,' said Balian, 'that cannot be; for God's sake let us have reason.' " It was finally arranged that seven thousand men should be ransomed for thirty thousand byzants, two women or ten children to count as one man. "When all was arranged Saladin gave them fifty days to sell and mortgage their effects and pay their ransom, and announced that he who should be found in the city after fifty days should belong to the conquerors, body and goods. "All the gates were closed except that of David. Guards were placed at this to prevent any Christian from going out, the Saracens being admitted to buy what the Christians had to sell. The day on which the city was given up was Friday, the 2nd day of October, 1187. Saladin placed officers in the town of David to receive the ransom, and ordered that no delay was to be granted beyond the fifty days. The patriarch and Balian went immediately to the Hospital and carried away the thirty thousand byzants for the ransom of the poor. When this was paid, they summoned the bourgeois of the city, and, choosing from their body the two most trustworthy men of each street, they made them swear on the relics of saints that they would spare neither man nor woman through