I have been foolish, the old man said.
How so? asked John.
I will tell you, the old man replied, but first I would ask a question. Have you a son or daughter?
I have a son, John answered.
Which would hurt more deeply? To be struck by a Saracen or by your son?
A blow from my son would hurt deeply, said John.
Now here is my reply, the old man said. Christians think themselves children of God and name themselves after Christ. Your God has given you teachers so you may discern truth from falsehood. That is why He feels hurt more by your sins than by those we commit, since we are ignorant, thinking we may be cleansed of sin by washing our bodies before we die.
Almighty God did not create the world without variety. Therefore pagans as well as Christians may look up to the vault of heaven. Yet if this is true, how can a torrent of darkness issue from their hearts?
During the year 1253 came word that a Mongol prince, Sartuq, had converted to Christianity, which seemed to his majesty providential. He charged two Dominicans, William of Ruybroek and Bartholomew of Cremona, to seek out this Mongol and beseech him to aid fellow Christians in Syria. It had been, I think, four years since two predicant friars departed from Cyprus with a portable chapel for the great khan, yet never a word from Asia. We could but hope and speculate that somewhere these emissaries of truth should meet.
Also, during this time at Acre we heard from the Old Man of the Mountain. Here came deputies, a pleasing emir handsomely dressed, followed by two youthful Assassins. One youth carried three knives so cleverly wrought that the blade of one fitted snugly to the handle of the next, a gift for King Louis if the emir’s reception proved less than cordial. Around one arm of the other was a roll of linen, a winding sheet in case his majesty disdained the overture.
After his majesty heard mass he received these deputies and wished to know why they had come, whereupon the emir presented letters of credence. My lord sends me to ask if you are acquainted, said he.
King Louis replied that he did not know the Old Man, but had heard about him.
Then I am surprised, the emir said. For if you have heard about him I should think you would send him large amounts of money to be assured of his friendship, just as the king of Hungary and the sultan of Cairo and others pay tribute year after year. But if you are unable to do this my lord will relieve you of the obligation, provided you relieve him of his obligation to the Temple and to the Hospital.
These two orders were much feared by the Assassins.
King Louis replied that he would see the emir that afternoon. When the emir came back he found King Louis seated between the Master of the Temple and the Master of the Hospital. The king asked him to repeat what he had said that morning. He refused. At this both Masters commanded him to speak, which he did. Then he was told in Saracenic to come and speak with them privately at the Hospital. There he was told that he had behaved rashly by delivering an insolent message and they would drown him in the putrid sea of Acre except that doing so would cast a shadow on the king. They told him he should go back to the Old Man but return in a fortnight bearing a letter of apology and such gifts and jewels as might appease the king’s wrath.
These deputies returned in less than a fortnight. They brought the Old Man’s shirt and a conciliatory message. As the shirt clings to the body, so does the Old Man cling to his love for the great King Louis.
Nor was this all. They tendered his ring, made of excellent gold, which had his name engraved, indicating close alliance, declaring his wish that henceforth they should be united as though espoused. They brought jewelry, crystal giraffes, crystal elephants, divers crystal fruits, gaming boards, and chess tables deftly inlaid with stone flowers. These all were embowered in ambergris, causing a fragrant odor to pervade the room. King Louis thought to reciprocate with equivalent riches and by way of these deputies sent lengths of scarlet cloth, gold cups, jewels, silver horse snaffles, and other magnificent things. And he charged Friar Yves le Breton to go with these deputies and find out what he could.
Friar Yves got back safely to Acre, albeit not many expected him to. He reported that Assassins follow the teaching of Mahomet’s uncle, Ali, which none of us had known. We were informed that Ali raised his nephew to high estate, but instead of feeling grateful Mahomet despised and denigrated his uncle and proposed a different faith. Hence, Muslims who obey the teaching of Mahomet call the disciples of Ali misguided, whereas those who accept the latter call the former insurgent, much as we think Christian Greeks insurgent. Friar Yves explained that Assassins do not fear death because they think the soul of a man who dies serving his lord will be rewarded with a more attractive body.
We learned that the Old Man keeps in his bedchamber a book containing things spoken by our Lord Jesus to Saint Peter. Friar Yves when he saw this book admonished the Old Man to study it often because the words in it were both true and wise. The Old Man responded that he did often study this book. I have learned, said he, that the soul of Abel after death came into the body of Noah, and when Noah died his soul came into the body
