[334] Albert of Aix, lib. iii. [335] Robertus, lib. iv. [336] Robert.; Albert of Aix, lib. iii. [337] Guibert; Albert of Aix, lib. iii. [338] Robertus; Albert. [339] Five thousand perished on the bridge and in the water, according to Robert the Monk. [340] Robertus Monachus. [341] Guibert mentions previously that the number of horses was reduced to a thousand; lib. iv. [342] Robertus; Guibert. [343] Raimond d'Agiles. [344] Guibert, lib. v.; Fulcher, cap. 7. [345] Will. Tyr.; Albert; Fulcher, cap. 8. [346] Raimond d'Agiles. [347] William of Tyre says he was a noble Armenian, chief of the tribe of _Benizerra_, or the sons of the armour-forgers, and calls him Emir Feir. Abouharagi, however, says he was a Persian, and calls him Ruzebach. [348] Guibert; Will. Tyr.; Albert. [349] Guibert. [350] William of Tyre, lib. v.; Robert, lib. v.; Guibert, lib. v. [351] This transaction is reported variously. Albert of Aix says, that the proposal of Boemond was at once received with joy. Raoul of Caen gives a different account, and states that the bishop of Puy, on the suggestion of Boemond, suggested that the town should be given to him who could first obtain it. Guibert and Robert relate it as I have done above. The archbishop of Tyre declares that no one opposed the proposal of Boemond but the Count of Toulouse. [352] Will. Tyr.; Albert of Aix; Guibert, lib. v. [353] Albert of Aix; Robertus, lib. v. [354] Robertus, lib. v., 2d June, A. D. 1098. [355] Guibert, lib. v.; Raimond d'Agiles; Albert. [356] There is some reason to believe that Boemond was the first who entered, as stated by William of Tyre; but as Albert of Aix makes no mention of the fact, and as Guibert de Nogent declares positively that Boemond, who is certainly his favourite hero, did not mount till sixty others had preceded him, as Raimond d'Agiles gives the honour of the feat to Fulcher de Chartres, and as Robert the Monk confirms that assertion, I have left the matter in doubt, as I found it. In regard to the story of Phirouz murdering his brother in his sleep, because he would not aid in his design, I believe fully that it was but one of those ornamental falsehoods with which men are ever fond of decorating great and extraordinary events. I doubt not that the tale was current in the time of William of Tyre, who reports it; and the act was, beyond question, looked upon as a noble and devoted one on the part of Phirouz; but as I find nothing to confirm it in any book I possess, except the simple fact of that Armenian having been a traitorous rascal, please God, till further evidence I will look upon it all as a lie. Robert the Monk represents, in very glowing terms, the grief of Phirouz for the death of his two brothers, who were killed in the _melée_. Phirouz became a Christian, at least in name; and to cover the baseness of his perfidy, he declared that the Saviour himself had appeared to him in a vision, commanding him to deliver up the town.