captured, and sent heralds among the conquered people, to tell them
that if anyone of them were in need, he could join them and receive
remuneration for his services. Among them was a knight,
exceptionally skilled with weapons, among the leading followers of
the count of Saint-Gilles, named Raymond Pelet, to whom many knights
and foot-soldiers had affiliated themselves. His generosity and
energy had attracted many men, and he set out with a large army into
Saracen territory, and the first place they reached was fortress
called Talamina. The inhabitants, since they were Syrians,
immediately surrendered to him. After staying in this town eight
days, he heard that not far away there was town filled with a large
group of Saracens. He quickly launched an assault to enter the town;
God led the penetration, and the town was captured. Those
inhabitants who agreed to become Christian were spared; those who
refused were killed. Having finished this business, they gave thanks
to God and returned to Talamina. On the third day they again went
out, this time to attack a village called Marrah, a fine city, well
fortified, where people of many different nations had assembled.
Close to the previously mentioned fortress, it attracted the refuse
of Saracens and Turks from nearby towns and cities, especially from
Aleph. A force of pagans ready to fight approached our men, who
judged themselves able to fight in the usual manner, but who were
quickly deceived by the pagan's trickery. The enemy, advancing in
great numbers, did great harm to our men. All that day each side in
turn advanced and retreated. Our men suffered from the intense heat,
and, their insides parched with unusual thirst, weary and unable to
find relief, they decided to pitch their tents near the city. When
the inhabitants understood that our men were faltering somewhat (it
was the Syrians who first began to talk of flight more seriously),
they became more aggressive in response to their enemies' fears, and