Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 1.djvu/237

A.D. 1191.] retreat, leaving behind him seven thousand dead upon the field. Richard advanced to Jaffa, the Jaffa of the Bible, of which city he obtained possession without opposition, but here a delay took place, which proved fatal to the success of the expedition.



Some of the chief men of the army alleged that it would be necessary to repair the fortifications of Jaffa, for the purpose of placing it in a condition of defence. The soldiers, remembering the pleasures of Acre, willingly adopted a pretext which afforded a new opportunity of rest and enjoyment; and Richard himself, attracted by the field sports to be obtained in the neighbourhood, appears to have laid aside for a time his customary energy. Saladin, who had recovered from his defeat, and was intent upon vengeance, was known to be in the neighbourhood, with an army even larger than before; but Cœur-de-Lion, undisturbed by this circumstance, rode about the country with a small escort. Many strange