So much did these merchants allege. What became of the caliph, they did not seem to know. God affright misbelievers.
One morning the king asked me to go for a ride with him. While crossing a field we rode past a little church and since the doors were open we could hear a priest chanting mass. The king said this church was built to honor a miracle performed by our Lord. Then he said he would like to attend mass, if I did not mind. I told him that would be a good thing. We dismounted and went inside. The cleric who assisted the priest had a black and shaggy look and I could not help thinking he might be one of the Assassins, therefore when it came time to offer us the pax I took it from the cleric and brought it myself to his majesty. Afterward we continued riding and chanced upon the legate. His majesty complained of my behavior so I explained to the legate that I felt anxious for the king’s safety because I mistrusted the cleric. The legate said I had acted properly. He did not, retorted the king. There in the field they took to arguing while I kept silent. This happened because the king was unable to imagine men less honorable than himself.
Anon, Queen Marguerite arrived by sea from Joppa where she had lately given birth to the Lady Blanche. I went to greet her and escorted her with the infant and her son Jean Tristram to the castle, after which I went looking for his majesty. I found him at prayer in the chapel. He inquired about them and I replied that all seemed in good health. This was the first time in five years he had spoken of them. Whether he talked about his family with others, I do not know. Nor do I understand how a man could be so distant from his wife and children. To me it does not seem right.
I asked his majesty if I might go on pilgrimage to the shrine of our Lady of Tortosa where numerous miracles had occurred. For instance, while we were in Egypt a man possessed by the Devil was brought to the shrine. As friends prayed to restore his health the Devil’s voice could be heard from inside his body. She is not here! the Devil shrieked. Our Lady is in Egypt aiding the king of France! And the date of this was written down, the document later shown to the legate. He, himself, told me about it. Nor can the miracle be doubted since on that very day she helped our cause. She might have come yet more strongly to our aid, had we not angered her and the Lord Jesus. Be this as it may, King Louis gave me leave to go and he commissioned me to buy a hundred lengths of camlet in divers colors, saying he would give it to the Franciscans when we got back to France. At these words I knew we would not stay much longer oversea.
While we were in Tripoli and I had bought the camlet my knights began to jest, wondering what I would do with so much fabric. I returned them good measure. Perhaps, I said, I have stolen it and mean to earn a profit. We were nobly entertained by the prince of that city. He honored us and wished to give us valuable presents, but we accepted only a few relics in his majesty’s name.
When we got back I instructed one of my knights to deliver four lengths of cloth to Queen Marguerite while I took the rest to King Louis. Later I was told that no sooner did my knight enter her majesty’s chamber carrying a linen bundle than she mistook it for a packet of holy articles and knelt. My lady, he said, these are not relics but cloth sent by my lord of Joinville. At this she and her attendants began to laugh and she wished me the worst of luck for having made her kneel before my fabric.
While we were yet engaged at repairing the fortifications of Saida his majesty received a wonderful gift, a stone that could be split into flakes, over and over again. If one of these flakes or scales was lifted there could be seen a fish made entirely of stone, eyes, bones, tail, everything stone. We were amazed and swore these little fishes must have been alive. His majesty gave me a fragment containing a tench, brown in color, each aspect of a tench just as it ought to be.
Here at Saida in the year of our Lord 1253 we were notified of the Queen Mother’s ascent to glory. The news was a long time coming, she departed six months previous. King Louis did not speak for two days. I was then told he wished to see me. When I came into his presence he stretched out both arms. Seneschal, I have lost my mother, he said. I replied that it must happen. Yet I wonder at this display of grief, I went on. As you know, Sire, a wise man long ago remarked that what pain a man feels in his heart should not be visible on his face, lest it delight his enemies and trouble his friends.
I believe the king scarcely knew his father. Louis VIII was by all accounts a vigorous young sovereign when he resolved to campaign against heretics in Languedoc and died unexpectedly at Montpensier. Most thought him poisoned. However it was, Queen Blanche thenceforth guided young Louis. He must listen to the hours of the Office each day. He must listen to sermons on feast days. I myself think, and heard it said, that she would rather her son incur temporal death than by any mortal
