[689] Mills speaks of the conduct of Richard in the following terms: “The sanguinary and ungenerous Richard killed or cast overboard his defenceless enemies; or, with an avarice equally detestable, saved the commanders for the sake of their ransom.” That author, however, says not one word of the Saracens’ fighting under false colours, or of the horrible cargo which they carried in their ship, though he afterward himself alludes to the sufferings of the crusaders from the bites of reptiles. Is this historical justice?
[690] Bernard the Treasurer.
[691] Boha Eddin, rec. Hist. Arabes de Reinaud.
[692] His name, literally translated, means the just king, the sword of the faith. From Saif Eddin the Christians composed the word Saphaddin, by which he is generally designated in the chronicles of the time.
[693] Vinesauf; Hovedon.
[694] Chron. St. Denis.
[695] James of Vitry; Hovedon; Vinesauf; Ben. of Pet.; Bernard the Treasurer.
[696] Rigord; William of Nangis; James of Vitry; Bernardus; Vinesauf; Hovedon. All these authors give different accounts of the numbers sacrificed.
[697] Bernard the Treasurer affirms that Philip caused the prisoners to be executed; but most of the other historians agree, that this piece of cruelty was committed by Richard alone.
[698] Rigord.