‘We agree that we don’t want to hurt people in the town. But
the Franks fight to the last man!’ Saladin’s generals said.
When Saladin met the Franks, he said, ‘I think – like you –
that Jerusalem is the City of God. I don’t want to attack God’s
home. So, if you surrender, then you will all be free to leave it
with your things. Your churches will be safe, and when people
want to make a pilgrimage to the holy places, they can travel
freely into the town at any time.’
The Franks knew that they weren’t strong, but they said,
‘How can we give you the town where Jesus died? If we let you
take Jerusalem without fighting, people will rightly say that
we’re afraid to die for Jesus. We must do our best to hold it!’
‘Then I’ll take Jerusalem by the sword, and many people will
lose their lives!’ Saladin promised.