OnhisarrivalatAcre，hefoundthewholeofthechivalryofEuropetherebeforehim。GuyofLusignan，theKingofJerusalem，hadlongbeforecollectedtheboldKnightsoftheTemple，theHospital，andSt。John，andhadlaidsiegetoAcre，whichwasresolutelydefendedbytheSultanSaladin，withanarmymagnificentbothforitsnumbersanditsdiscipline。Fornearlytwoyearsthecrusadershadpushedthesiege，andmadeeffortsalmostsuperhumantodislodgetheenemy。Variousbattleshadtakenplaceintheopenfieldswithnodecisiveadvantagetoeitherparty，andGuyofLusignanhadbeguntodespairoftakingthatstrongpositionwithoutaidfromEurope。HisjoywasextremeonthearrivalofPhilipwithallhischivalry，andheonlyawaitedthecomingofCoeurdeLiontomakeonelastdecisiveattackuponthetown。WhenthefleetofEnglandwasfirstseenapproachingtheshoresofSyria，auniversalshoutarosefromtheChristiancamp；andwhenRichardlandedwithhistrain，onelouderstillpiercedtotheverymountainsofthesouth，whereSaladinlaywithallhisarmy。
ItmayberemarkedascharacteristicofthisCrusade，thattheChristiansandtheMoslemsnolongerlookeduponeachotherasbarbarians，towhommercywasacrime。Eachhostentertainedthehighestadmirationforthebraveryandmagnanimityoftheother，andintheiroccasionaltrucesmetuponthemostfriendlyterms。TheMoslemwarriorswerefullofcourtesytotheChristianknights，andhadnootherregretthantothinkthatsuchfinefellowswerenotMahomedans。TheChristians，withafeelingpreciselysimilar，extolledtotheskiesthenoblenessoftheSaracens，andsighedtothinkthatsuchgenerosityandvalourshouldbesulliedbydisbeliefintheGospelofJesus。Butwhenthestrifebegan，allthesefeelingsdisappeared，andthestrugglebecamemortal。
ThejealousyexcitedinthemindofPhilipbytheeventsofMessinastillrankled，andthetwomonarchsrefusedtoactinconcert。
Insteadofmakingajointattackuponthetown，theFrenchmonarchassaileditalone，andwasrepulsed。Richarddidthesame，andwiththesameresult。PhiliptriedtoseducethesoldiersofRichardfromtheirallegiancebytheofferofthreegoldpiecespermonthtoeveryknightwhowouldforsakethebannersofEnglandforthoseofFrance。
Richardmetthebribebyanother，andpromisedfourpiecestoeveryFrenchknightwhoshouldjointheLionofEngland。Inthisunworthyrivalrytheirtimewaswasted，tothegreatdetrimentofthedisciplineandefficiencyoftheirfollowers。Somegoodwasneverthelesseffected；forthemerepresenceoftwosucharmiespreventedthebesiegedcityfromreceivingsupplies，andtheinhabitantswerereducedbyfaminetothemostwoefulstraits。Saladindidnotdeemitprudenttoriskageneralengagementbycomingtotheirrelief，butpreferredtowaittilldissensionhadweakenedhisenemy，andmadehimaneasyprey。PerhapsifhehadbeenawareoftherealextentoftheextremityinAcre，hewouldhavechangedhisplan；