Page images
PDF
EPUB

captive king, daughter of the king Amaury, was residing among the holy damsels with her servants, and horses, and attendant ladies: she also was liberated, herself and all who were with her, and whosoever asserted that he was of the number of her companions or suite. In like manner, the princess, daughter of Falít, lord of Hanafa, besought that all her property in her treasuries should be weighed and fully paid; and that all her private attendants should be freely suffered to go with her. These amounted to five hundred people of the land, who were asserted to be of that prince's country, and that their arrival in the Holy Land was only an arrival in pilgrimage. Moreover, Muzaffar-Uddín-Alí-Ibn-Lájak, asked craftily for the liberation of a thousand Armenians who were, as he pretended, from Edessa. Nevertheless the Sultán agreed to their departure, according to his desire. With all this, the net proceeds which came to the treasury amounted to nearly 100,000 dínárs. Those who remained, remained in a state of slavery and captivity, on account of their delay in the discharge of the stipulated sum, and their inability to pay the quota demanded.

We hear also from Omad, (on whom be the mercy of Almighty God!) the surrender of the Holy City took place on a day that resembled the

Q

night of Muhammad's journey to Heaven. Then was accomplished that which threw light upon the broad road to victory and exultation. Then did our tongues abound with humble and devoted prayer. Then the Sultán took his seat, in the garb of humility, and the worn garment of mỏdesty, to receive the congratulations of, and give audience to, the great men, and the Emirs, and the holy men, and the Ulema, and the Safís, and other pious men besides them. His face was bright with the light of the joyful tidings, and his hope prancing high with the great victory. His gate (of reception) was opened, his cup (of prosperity) presented, and his veil was raised (i. e. he gave open audience), and his own voice was heard, and his joyful merriment surpassed the usual bounds. Then shone forth the happy period of his life then his design was sweetly scented. His chief men came openly before him to receive audience, but kept within their breasts the swellings of hope. There sat the readers, to read i there stood the poets, to recite; there are seen learned men, spreading the news; there pens are writing, to publish the glad tidings; and eyes, from excess of joy, are full of tears. Hearts yield themselves to lowly praise for joy at the victory, and tongues repress (their pride) in offering humble thanksgivings to God. Writers catch the odour

[ocr errors]

of the news, and sweetly treat upon the subject. The flame (of the intelligence) widens and becomes broad, and proceeds with activity, and makes the unwilling to hear, and spreads far and wide. I also, said Omad, (upon whom abide the compassion of God!), wrote among those who announced the joyful tidings of this surrender, and diffused the grateful odour of this happy intelligence; and the Baitu-l-Harám (of Mecca) received the glad news of the liberation of the Masjidu-l-Aksá, (even as it had previously received the sad news of) its diversion from the service of the Muhammadan faith; and of the transformation of the White Rock into the Black Stone, and of the Spirit (i. e. Jesus Christ) having taken up his abode in the halting-place of the Night-journey, the resting-place of the Lord of Apostles, and Signet of Prophets, the resting-place of Apostles and Prophets, the Mansion of Abraham, which preserved the place of the foot of Muhammad the Elect, upon whom be the blessing and peace of God!

We are further informed by Omad as follows: -Men heard of this glorious victory and great conquest, and came to visit (the city) from all the distant highways, and walked into it from every path, and made a sacred procession from the Baitu-l Mukaddas, (Jerusalem, or the conse

crated House.) to the Ancient House, Mecca, and joyfully sported among the flowers of generosity in the land of beauty. Still further, Omad informs us, The Franks were enjoined to sell all their goods, and to bring out whatever smaller matters they might have; such as would sell for à small price in the market of contempt, and be disposed of for a few dínárs, not amounting to ten. They therefore diligently bestirred themselves in collecting together all their property which they could find, managing matters well for themselves. Moreover, they swept up every particle of property from their churches, and took therefrom even the smallest things of value, and transported from them the vessels and candlesticks of gold and silver, and the silk of the curtains and napkins, and completely stripped their churches of all that was there laid up, and brought out from the recesses the hidden wealth. Also the Great Patriarch collected all the broad plates of virgin gold or silver, and the unwrought masses of bullion, which were in the sepulchre, and collected all the treasure, and valuable (offerings and relics) which were in the Church of Holy Resurrection. Then I said to the Sultán, This is absolute wealth, and evident property, amounting in value to nearly 100,000 dínárs; and the capitulation spared only their lives and personal

property, not the property of their churches. Surely, if I may advise, we will not leave it in the hands of these cheating liars. Then the Sultán said, It is a pity. Nevertheless they will allege against us a breach of faith, among those who are ignorant of the real state of things. Let us therefore permit them to report how purely we observe the capitulation; nor let them object, against the people of Faith, a violation of an engagement; but let them tell how many valuable things we waived from it. Thus they left those valuables that were of heavy weight, and carried away that which was light of carriage. The greater men emigrated to Tyre; yet there remained 15,000, who refused the proposed impost, and were reduced to slavery according to the agreement. When, therefore, the holy places were purified from the footsteps of the Franks, that wicked race, and the squinting-eyed (sly, insincere) people had put off their garments, and the Christians had put on the honourable rate of a large amount of tax, if they departed; then they humbly besought permission to remain, and not remove. Thus they offered, in exchange for this privilege, loads of their wealth, and sought our favour in every way that is most degrading, by prostration, and salutation, and standing upright with joined hands. And they gave from their

« PreviousContinue »