Of a Sunday the king sent for his two brothers and other lords, myself included. He said he had neither peace nor truce with England and the Frankish domain stood in peril. The Queen Mother implores me to return, he said, but many protest that all would be forfeit if I depart. I pray you, then, consider and give me your thoughts. Eight days from this day I would know your counsel.
Guy Mauvoisin spoke on our behalf when we returned to advise his majesty. Sire, in concert your brothers and the high barons have disclosed their thoughts. We believe you cannot stay without prejudice to your honor. Of two thousand eight hundred knights you led to Cyprus no more than one hundred may be found in Acre. Hence it is our judgment that you should depart. In France you will be able to levy troops and money so that you may with good speed return to the Holy Land to avenge yourself on the enemies of God.
When Guy Mauvoisin had finished speaking King Louis addressed himself to individual knights, asking if they agreed. All did, save the count of Joppa who begged to be excused. For, as he explained, his castle stood on the frontier and if he counseled the king to remain it would be whispered that he looked to his own advantage. As it came my turn I told his majesty that I agreed with the count of Joppa. His majesty in very poor temper asked how he might abuse the Saracen with so few knights. I replied that, while I did not know if it were true, people said the king spent revenue from the church but not his own. Therefore, said I, let the king obtain knights from Morea and other parts with his own resources. Knights will arrive in good number if they hear the king pays generously. Thus we may hold the field. And should it please God, we may liberate those despairing captives who must otherwise languish without hope of freedom.
Silence fell when I spoke these words. Not one in that room but had a friend held captive. Many began to weep. The legate asked Marshal Guillaume de Beaumont what he thought and he replied that I had spoken very well. At this Lord Jean de Beaumont, who was his uncle and nourished a great desire to see France again, cried out sharply. The king admonished Lord Jean, saying he should let his nephew speak. Certes, I will not! Lord Jean replied. Guillaume kept silent. Nor did others speak on my behalf, excepting Lord Châtenai. The king said he would reflect upon our advice and tell us by the end of the week what he meant to do.
At supper he bade me sit beside him as he customarily did if his brothers were absent, but throughout the meal he said not a word to me. I thought he must be annoyed so while he was hearing grace I got up and walked to an embrasure near his bed and thrust my arms through the bars of the window. I stood there considering what I might do if he returned to France. I thought I would approach the prince of Antioch, to whom I was related, who had asked me to join him. I would be able to stay there until another expedition came oversea. Then by the grace of God we might deliver those unfortunates from bondage. While I stood there contemplating the future someone leaned against me and put both hands atop my head. Philippe de Nemours had plagued me because of the counsel I offered so I thought it must be he.
Philippe, I said with little grace, I beg you leave me. Feeling vexed, I turned my head. At this a hand slipped across my face and I saw an emerald ring worn by the king of France.
Calm yourself, his majesty said. I want to ask you something. How is it that you, who are young, dare counsel me to stay when the wisest men of France advise me to depart?
I replied that if there had been wickedness in my heart I would not have spoken as I did. He asked if I thought it would be wrong for him to leave. I said I did. If I should stay, he asked, would you also? I answered that I would stay if possible, either at my own expense or at the expense of someone else. Do not trouble yourself on that account, he said, adding that he was well pleased with my advice. And he bade me not speak of our conversation till the week was up.
During that week I heard from Pierre d’Avallon who lived in Tyre, who sent word that I was ridiculed for having urged his majesty to remain. I was mocked as a colt, which is a name given to peasants of that region. Pierre suggested I defend myself by saying it was better to be a colt than a weary draft horse.
Sunday, which was Saint John’s Day, we assembled. King Louis invoked the Holy Spirit by making the sign of the cross upon his mouth, after which he thanked those who had counseled him to return to France as well as those who urged him to remain. Then he said that on no account would he abandon the kingdom of Jerusalem, which he had come to liberate and protect. He said he would offer such generous terms to the nobles and to other knights that if they did not choose to stay in the Holy Land the fault must be their own. At his words some appeared struck dumb with amazement. Others wept.
I now took it upon myself to visit the shrine of Saint James.
Soon after I returned from this pilgrimage his majesty summoned the members of his council and began to complain in a loud voice. My lords, he
