·.· A.D. 1191. THE KING OF FRANCE ATTACKS THE EMPEROR ISAAC. 201 and respect for the Cross, the giver of life, he -would allow His pilgrims, whom he was keeping captive in chains, to depart unhurt, and restore to them their property, and give up to him the property of such of his subjects as had been drowned, that with the same he might perform service to God for their souls : to which, however, the emperor haughtily made answer, and said that he would neither give up the pilgrims nor the property of the drowned. The king, upon hearing that this wicked emperor would do nothing for him unless forced so to do, commanded the whole of his army to take up their arms, and, being fully armed, to follow him, saying to them : " Follow me, that we may avenge the injuries which this perfidious emperor has done to God and to ourselves, who thus, against the justice and equity of God, keeps our pilgrims in chains ; and fear them not, for they are without arms, and better prepared for flight than for battle ; whereas we are well armed, and to him who wields arms, he yields up everything who denies him what is his right. "We are also bound to fight manfully against him, in order to deliver the people of God from perdition, knowing that we must either conquer or die. But I have full confidence in God, that He wiB this day grant us the victory over this perfidious emperor and his people." In the meantime, the emperor with his people had taken up their position in every direction on the sea-shore ; but a few only of them were armed, and they were nearly aB utterly unskilled in the art of warfare ; however, they stood on the shore, armed with swords, and lances, and staves ; and having in front of them logs and beams, and benches and chests, as a defence. When the king of England and his people had armed themselves, they disembarked from the great ships into boats and gaBeys, and, rowing on, made for shore with exceeding swiftness ; on which the archers, landing first, made way for the others. After landing, the king leading the way, with ono accord they made an attack upon the emperor and his Griffons,19 and Bke a shower upon the grass did the arrows faB upon those who fought ; but after the combat had lasted a considerable time, the emperor and his people took to flight : upon which the king of England pursued them with the edge of the sword, and, making a great slaughter of them, took pri 1 9 This seems to have been the name given by the people of the west of Europe to the Greeks of Byzantium.