Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/76

54 Whatever may have been their defects, or even vices, cowardice was certainly not often alleged against the brethren either of the Hospital or Temple. On this important field, with the fate of Christian dominion in the East depending on their success, they strove with generous rivalry to outvie each other. Side by side these mailed warriors of the Church hurled themselves at the infidel, and the fierce war-cry of the Temple, rising high above the din of battle, was mingled in gallant unison with that of the Hospital.

All, however, was in vain. The numbers of the enemy were too vast for even their heroism to overcome, and, led as the Saracens were by a general of such ability as Saladin, those numbers were used to the greatest possible advantage. As the day wore on the impetuosity of the Christian attack abated, and the stubbornness of their resistance became less determined, until at length, exhausted, broken, and crushed, they gave way. Saladin pressed his victory to the uttermost, and allowing the retreating army no breathing time, he poured his forces on their shattered columns, and utterly completed their overthrow.

This disastrous fight sealed the fate of the kingdom. Guy had staked everything upon the issue of a single field, and the cast of the die had gone against him. Saladin remained not only master of the day, but with the way to Jerusalem opened unopposed to his advance. The king, the Grand-Master of the Temple, and several other lords of note, fell prisoners into his hands, and Garnier, whose valour throughout the day was worthy of his exalted post, met the end of a true soldier of the cross, having been so desperately wounded that he only survived to reach Ascalon, where he died.

The loss of the Hospitallers was enormous, in addition to those who fell on the field, such as were taken prisoners were massacred by order of Saladin, who gave them the option of apostasy or death; they, like true Christian knights, selecting the latter alternative, and thus sealing their faith with their blood. The few remaining members of the Order, as soon as the news of the issue of the battle of Tiberias and the death of Garnier had reached them, assembled once again, with a feeling well-nigh of despair, to elect, as it seemed to them most probably their last Master. With some difficulty they persuaded