King Richard, with his usual thoughtlessness,
allowed the scandalous marriage, but prevented the reasonable
diplomatic arrangement. As he had a certain liking for Henry, who was
his nephew, he wished to conquer a few more provinces for him in a
hurry, and to win some fresh laurels for himself at the same time; and
accordingly began the war anew against Saladin. A Turkish fortress was
taken, when more evil tidings arrived from England, and Richard
announced that he could not remain a moment longer. The barons broke
out in a general cry of indignation that he who had plunged them into
danger should forsake them in the midst of it, and once more the
vacillating King allowed himself to be diverted from his purpose.
Again the Christians remained long inactive at Baitnuba, not daring to
attack the city.

The ultimate reason for this delay was illustrative of the state of
things. The leaders knew that the great mass of pilgrims would
disperse as soon as their vows were fulfilled by the deliverance of
the Holy Sepulchre; this would seal the destruction of the Frankish
rule in Syria, should it happen before the treaty of peace with
Saladin was concluded. Thus the ostensible object of the crusade could
not be achieved without ruining Christianity in the East. It is
impossible to give a stronger illustration of the hopelessness and
internal conflict of all their views and endeavors at that time. They
at last turned back disheartened to Ramla, where they were startled by
the news that Saladin had unexpectedly assumed the offensive, attacked
the important seaport town of Jaffa, and was probably already in
possession of it.

Richard's warlike impetuosity once more burst forth. With a handful of
followers he put to sea and hastened to Jaffa. When he came in sight
of the harbor, the Turks were already inside the town, plundering in
every direction, and assailing the last remains of the garrison. After
a short reconnoitre Richard drove his vessel on shore, rushed with an
echoing war-cry into the midst of the enemy's superior force, and by
his mighty blows actually drove the Turks in terror and confusion out
of the place. On the following day he encamped with contemptuous
insolence outside the gates with a few hundred horsemen, when he was
suddenly attacked by as many thousands. In one instant he was armed,
drove back the foremost assailants, clove a Turk's head down to his
shoulders, and then rode along the wavering front of the enem