[307] Mills declares, that the Christians were rescued from this ambuscade by the arrival of Tancred. I find the account of Albert of Aix totally opposed to such a statement; while the passage in Raoul of Caen relating to this event is so full of errors in other respects, that no reliance could be placed upon it, even if it justified the assertion of Mills, which, however, it does not do. He states, that Tancred arrived long before the ambuscade, and that he found Baldwin at Artesia. By this he might mean Baldwin de Bourg, who, after the other Baldwin became King of Jerusalem, was also created Count of Edessa; but this interpretation cannot be admitted here, as he mentions the former disputes between the soldiers of Tancred and of the Baldwin to whom he refers, and who could therefore be none other than the brother of Godfrey, who was, we know, in Edessa at the time. We may therefore conclude, that as a principal part of this account is notoriously false, Raoul of Caen cannot be considered as any authority, so far as this event is concerned. Finding the statement of Tancred's assistance here not confirmed by any other good authority, I have abided by the account of Albert. [308] Albert of Aix. [309] Raimond d'Agiles. [310] Will. Tyr., Raimond. [311] Albert of Aix. [312] Raimond; Guibert of Nogent. [313] Raimond; Albert says six hundred thousand; Guibert of Nogent. [314] Raimond. [315] Raimond d'Agiles; Albert d'Aix; Guibert de Nogent, lib. iv.; Robert. [316] Raimond d'Agiles; Albert of Aix; Guibert de Nogent. [317] Malmsbury. [318] Albert; Raimond d'Agiles. [319] Guibert de Nogent; Robertus Monachus, lib. iv. [320] Guibert; Albert; Robert. Mon. [321] Raimond d'Agiles. [322] Ibid; Guibert; Robertus Monachus. [323] Guibert says he was a boasting coward; but this is contradicted by others. [324] Guibert de Nogent; Robert. [325] Guibert; Robertus Monachus, lib. iv. [326] Robert. Monac. [327] Albert of Aix. [328] Raimond d'Agiles; Vertot; Guibert; William of Tyre. [329] This is one of the points on which the authorities of the day are in direct opposition to each other. Mills has chosen the opinion of Robertus Monachus, who states that the message of the calif was haughty and insolent. I have followed another version of the story, because I find it supported by a greater weight of evidence, and because I do not think the calif would have taken the trouble of sending all the way from Egypt to insult a party of men whose persevering conduct showed that they were not likely to be turned back by words. Guibert says, that the calif promised even to embrace the Christian faith, in case the crusaders overcame the Turks, and restored to him his Syrian dominions. Albert of Aix also vouches the same proposal, which, however improbable might have been made for the purpose of deceiving the crusaders. [330] Robertson's Historical Disquisition on India. [331] Robert, lib. iv. [332] Albert of Aix. [333] Albert; Robert. Mon.