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it was in the hands of the Chriftians, was a violent eye-fore to Salah'addin, as it awed and commanded all the paffes leading from the north and eaft into Egypt, and disturbed the Pilgrimages to Mecca. But here much Blood was fpilt, much Fatigue endured, and at length the Soltan hearing that the Franks were in full march for the relief of the Befieged, rofe up and retreated, carrying his Brother with him to Damafcus, and appointing another to govern Egypt in his room; he being now defigned for the Sovereignty of Aleppo, in which he was accordingly inftalled, while his Brother Salab'addin at Damafcus was courted and congratulated by Embaffies from all parts.

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BUT amidst all the Pomp and Ceremony of Year of the his Court at Damafcus, he forgot not his late Hej.580. difgrace and difappointment at Crac, which place he determined to attempt a fecond time; thereby, if he could, to open a free communication with Egypt. In order to this, vaft preparations were made in Men and Machines; and he invefted the place a second time with a great Army of Egyptians and Syrians, with the Mefopotamians under the Conduct of Kara Arlan. The Franks, on the other hand, collected their whole might to protect the Place. The Soltan with his Horfe only drew off from the Siege to meet them, but nothing enfued except a flight fkirmish; and the Soltán percerving their obftinacy in the behalf of Crac, and, confidering at the fame time that Paleftine was defenceless, thro' the abfence of its Army, ordered an Irruption to be made into that Country; whereby the Chriftians were grievously oppreffed, their Country ravaged, and themNo XIII. 1731. B felves VOL. III

felves murdered and led into Captivity, while their Army was engaged in fecuring of Crac. For this did Salahaddin return in triumph to Damafcus, where by an Embassy he received the royal Vestments from the Khalif of Baghdad, as did alfo his Brother, and the Son of Afado'ddin. Kara Arflan was difmiffed with the like Honours from Salah'addin, and the Army fent into Quarters.

Year of the

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About this time, complaint was made to him Hej. 581. at Damafcus, that the Mifolites had taken up Arms, and were befieging Arbela: this rouzed his Indignation against that turbulent and faithlefs People, whom he refolved once more to reduce. On his March it was told him, that the Kings of the East had all confpired to make head against him, if he offered to lay hands, either on Mifol or Merdin*: but paying no regard to this, he was foon afterwards joined by the Power of Merdin, under his Friend Kara Aran the Mefopotamian; and then continuing his way towards Múfol, he diftreffed that City from a very advantageous Post: but they had not been here long, e'er Kara Arflân had Advice of his Brother's Death, and therefore defired leave to return home to take poffeffion of his Dominion.

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Much about this time alfo died Shah Armen the Prince of Armenia, and bequeathed his Territory to one Buktimer, who had waited as Embaffador on Salah' addin, when he was laft in these parts. This Man was well approved of by his Subjects, but forely envied by fome of his Neighbours, who made him fit very uneafy upon his Throne, Wherefore to

*This was then the Capital of Mefopotamia, and fituated upon a very lofty Hill.

obviate

obviate all the Troubles which feemed to threaten him, and understanding that Salah'addin was befieging of Múfol, he dispatched an Embaffy to acquaint him, that he would willingly make an exchange of Khalát his Capital and Dominions, for fuch other as the Soltán fhould be pleased to fecure to him. The Soltán liked the motion well, and drew off from Múfol to go and take poffeffion of Khalât, deputing proper Perfons before him to fettle the Articles relating to the propofed exchange against he came in Perfon. But by the time the Deputies arrived, Affairs had changed face; Buktimer was now very eafy, was no longer of the fame mind, defired to be excufed, and they. returned as they came. In the mean time the Soltán laid clofe Siege to Miyafarekin (in Armenia, according to fome in Mefopotamia, according to others) commanded by a Chief whofe Name was Lion, and who behaved in confor mity to his Name upon this dangerous occafion : but his Efforts, tho' great, availed him nothing against the fortunate Soltán.

THE Affair of Khalât now dropped, Salah' ad= din fell back again to Mifol, and diftreffed that City once more; but in the midst of it, the violent Heats of the Season threw him into a Malignant Diftemper, which was apprehended to be mortal, and he was removed from before the Place. The Mûfolites having by this time experienced that they could have no Succour either from Perfia or Baghdad, deemed this illnefs of the Soltan's to be a happy opportunity of fuing to him for Peace; with which important Negotiation our Hiftorian was charged, and fucceeded very well in it.

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Year of the THE Soltan being pretty tolerably recovered, Hej. 582. led his Army back into Syria, going firft to Aleppo, where he was received, as if arisen from the Dead. Here he ftaid but four Days, and hence proceeded for Damafcus, and entered that Capital amidst the Acclamations and Thankf givings of all the Multitude there. From hence he quelled a Rebellion, and removed his Brother Al-Malec Al-Aded from Aleppo into Egypt, which he had governed before; and difpofed of Aleppo in favour of his own Son Al-Malec Addabir.

Year of the BUT it was impoffible for him to fit ftill, Hej.583. while fo inconfiderable a Progrefs had been made in the HOLY WAR; and therefore he determined to befiege Crac once more, appointing a place of Rendezvous for his Troops, who in repairing thither, had orders to be as deftructive to the Franks as opportunity would permit them. Crac was accordingly invested, but without any notable feat; the Soltán returning into Syria, after he had only awed the Frontiers, and protected a Pilgrimage from Mecca and the Winter Caravan from Egypt.

A Peace was now patched up with the Franks in the North, towards Aleppo, that the Soltan might at least be fafe from that quarter, while he collected his whole might against the Chriftian King of Jerufalem; and now the heavy Day draws on apace. The Flower of Egypt, Syria, Affyria and Mefopotamia, were united under the Soltán, who led them on towards Palestine. On the other hand, the Franks at Jerufalem gave themselves violent Motions, and took the Field with their whole Strength. The Moflems came to the Lake of Tiberias, and coafted round it in Battle-array, till they were

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on the Plains on the Weft of that Lake, where they expected the Christians to receive them; but no fign of them being feen, the Soltán feized on the Paffes which lay open to their Army, and then with a choice Detachment of Horfe, thundered upon the City of Tiberias, which in a moment's time was fired and plundered, and filled with Blood; from which the Castle only escaped. This fudden and terrible Execution rouzed up the Franks, who inftantly marched towards the Soltán to fight him; who upon the News drew off from the Castle of Tiberias, and posted himself at the head of his Army.

THE two Armies came in fight of each other, The Battle on the Weft fide of the Mount of Tiberias; of Hittin. but the Day drawing towards an end, and the Darkness of the Night intervening, they halted fhort of each other, and stood to their Arms with dreadful Vigilance, and big with expectation, till the next Morning. The Battle began with the fucceeding Day, and raged with uncommon Fury and doubtful Success, except that a part of the Chriftian Army was routed in the Morning, and that towards the Evening Victory feemed to declare for the Moslems, tho' Night came on again e'er that was affuredly known. This Night was spent as the former in watchful Precautions on each fide, tho' neither was well able to ftir after the unfpeakable Fatigue of fo long and active a Combat. At day-break the next Morning both Armies were seen stretching along in front of each other; but the Moflems had the disadvantage of fituation, the Jordan being in their rear to cut off their retreat: but the Caufe was God's, and there was to be no danger of being forced

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