Provoked at this, Salaheddin declared to Nial, the lord of
Manbedj, bearer of the missive, that the inviolability of an am-
bassador alone preserved his head, and marched with his troops
to Aleppo, in order, as he said, to have a personal interview
with his young prince. On his way he took Hama and Hemss,
and encamped in the vicinity of Aleppo. The inhabitants and
the young prince,led by his guardian, the eunuch Gumushteghin,
instead of coming to a^aceful conference with Salaheddin,
advanced against him in arms. " God is my witness," ex-
claimed he, " that I wish it not to come to arms ! but since
ye will have it so, they shall decide." The troops of Aleppo
were defeated, and fled in disorder to the city, which their
opponents now began to besiege in due form.*

Gumushteghin, who saw no protection at hand from the
swords of his valiant besiegers, had recourse to the daggers

(1) Nokhbetet-tevirikh.
