A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 2 | Page 3

the seventh year of King Baldwin, a large fleet from England,
containing above 7000 men, many of whom were soldiers, arrived at
the harbour of Joppa, along with whom came other warriors from
Denmark, Flanders, and Antwerp. Having received permission and safe
conduct from King Baldwin, together with a strong band of armed men
as a safeguard, they arrived in safety at Jerusalem and all the other

places of devotion, free from all assaults and ambushes of the Gentiles;
and having paid their vows unto the Lord in the church of the Holy
Sepulchre, they returned with great joy, and without molestation, to
Joppa[2]. Finding King Baldwin in that place, they made offer to assist
him in any military enterprize; for which offer he gave them great
commendations, saying, That he could not give an immediate answer,
without consulting the patriarch and barons, of his kingdom.
He therefore called together the Lord Patriarch, Hugh of Tabaria,
Gunfrid the governor of the Tower of David, and the other principal
officers of the kingdom of Jerusalem, to consult together in the city of
Rames, how best to employ this proferred assistance of so considerable
a body of volunteers.
In that assembly, it was agreed upon to lay siege to the city of Sagitta,
otherwise called Sidon; upon which, having directed every one of the
nobles to go home, that they might provide armour and all other
necessaries for the siege, he sent messengers to the English, requiring
them not to remove their fleet and army from Joppa, but to wait there
for his farther commands; informing them, that he and his nobles had
resolved, with their aid, to lay siege to the city of Sidon, but it would
require some time to provide the necessary engines and warlike
instruments, for assaulting the walls of that place. The pilgrims
answered, that they would attend his orders at Joppa, promising to be
obedient to him in all things, even unto death. The king went soon
afterwards, with the patriarch and all his attendants to the city of Acre;
where, during forty days, he was busily employed in the construction of
engines, and many different kinds of warlike instruments, and of every
thing necessary for the intended siege.
When this intended expedition came to the knowledge of the
inhabitants of Sidon, and they understood that a powerful army of
pilgrims lay in readiness at Joppa, to assist the king of Jerusalem, they
were afraid of being subdued and destroyed by the Christians, as
Caesaria, Assur, Acre, Cayphas, and Tabaria had already been; and
they sent secret emissaries to the king, offering a large sum of money in
gold byzants, and a considerable yearly tribute, on condition that he
would spare their lives and refrain from the intended siege. After a
lengthened negotiation, during which the inhabitants of Sidon rose
considerably in their offers, the king, being in great straits for means to

discharge the pay of his soldiers, hearkened willingly to the offers of
the Sidonians; yet, afraid of reproach from the Christians, he dared not
openly to consent to their proposals.
In the meantime, Hugh of Tabaria, who was a principal warrior among
the Christians of Palestine, and indefatigable in assaulting the pagans
on all occasions, having gathered together 200 horse and 400 infantry,
suddenly invaded the country of a great Saracen lord, named Suet, on
the frontiers of the territory of Damascus, where he took a rich booty of
gold and silver and many cattle, which would have proved of great
importance in assisting the army at the siege of Sidon. On his return
with this prey by the city of Belinas, otherwise called Caesaria Philippi,
the Turks of Damascus, with the Saracen inhabitants of the country,
gathered together in great numbers, and pursued the troops of Hugh,
that they might recover the booty. Coming up with them in the
mountains, over which the infantry belonging to Hugh of Tabaria were
driving their prey, the Turks prevailed over the Christians, and the
plunder was recovered. On receiving this intelligence, Hugh, who
happened to be at some distance, hastened with his cavalry to succour
his footmen, and to recover the spoil: But happening to fall in with the
Turks in a strait and craggy place, and rushing heedlessly among the
enemy, unprovided with his armour, he was shot in the back by an
arrow, which pierced his liver, and he died on the spot. His soldiers
brought back the dead body of Hugh to the city of Nazareth near Mount
Thabor, where he was honourably interred. Gerard, the brother of Hugh,
lay at this time sick of a dangerous illness, and died within eight days
afterwards.
Taking advantage of the death of these two famous princes, King
Baldwin agreed to receive the money which had been