The people of Askalon won a truce for the dead of both sides to be buried, then lost forty men carrying a beam to a huge stone from a Christian catapult. They began to discuss surrender, dramatised by William of Tyre as a speech made by wise and eloquent elders before the city's remaining population. The speech narrated fifty years of proud resistance against the stubborn Latin invaders, in which Askalon alone was undefeated; but present sufferings were unbearable, their power and will to resist much reduced, so that it was essential to ask Baldwin III for terms. There were cries of assent. Baldwin received a deputation offering surrender in return for safe departure. He listened, paused to consult, then accepted with tears of joy. Oaths were sworn: the people were to leave the city safely in three days with all their possessions. Baldwin's standard was raised over the city. The people left after two days: the Christians entered and gave thanks in the main mosque, which became the church of St Paul. The patriarch organised canons with set incomes, and chose Absalom as bishop, to the protests of Gerald, bishop of Bethlehem (the pope later upheld the protest, removed Absalom and awarded the church of Askalon to Bethlehem). Baldwin gave Askalon to his brother Amalric, and on the advice of Melisende distributed other possessions and lands, some on merit, some for payment. The people of Askalon had Latin guides to al-Arish, but were later attacked and robbed by a faithless Turkish comrade Nocquinus, who had served them for pay. He pretended to act as their escort but left them wandering in the desert