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Itinerary
218
obliged to return home, probably not a man would remain in the Holy
Land, as there was jealousy and strife between the people of Tyre and
Ascalon, and without a doubt the Turks would have possession of the land
for ever.
Chapter XXIII. Ñ How the army, on hearing the secret news brought by the
kingÕs messenger, took counsel to choose a king for themselves. and how the people
preferred the marquis to King Guy.
On the morrow, the king having called together the leaders of the
army, laid before them the news which he had heard, fully explaining the
words of the prior, and at the same time declaring that he must, of
necessity, return home directly, but promised to furnish to the campaign in
the Holy Land three hundred knights and two thousand chosen foot
soldiers, at his own expense. He then inquired who would return with him,
and who would stay behind? He would compel no one to do either, but left
it entirely to their own choice. Having taken counsel, in common, on this
point, they made the following reply to the kingÕs inquiries: Ñ That as the
land was suffering from the discord of certain parties, and the issue of
events was still uncertain, especially as King Guy had not yet effected his
purpose of recovering the kingdom, they thought it absolutely necessary
that a new king should be appointed, to whom all should pay allegiance,
and to whose care the land should be entrusted, that he might fight the
battles of the people; one, in fine, whom the army could follow and obey;
and if this should not be settled before the kingÕs departure, that they
would, one and all, depart from the land, for they should not otherwise be
able to guard it against the enemy. On the king inquiring, in reply to this,
which of the two they would rather have for king, King Guy, or the
marquis, the whole army, high and low, entreated, on their bended knees,
that the marquis should be elevated to the sovereignty, as much better able
to defend the country than any other they could choose. The king, listening
to their petition, censured them in gentle terms for their fickleness, for they
had before this often detracted from the character and good qualities of the
marquis.

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Itinerary
219
Chapter XXIV. Ñ How King Richard, to satisfy the people, sent for marquis,
though known to be seditious and in league with Saladin.
King Richard, when he had weighed well the petition of the people
for choosing the marquis as their king, gave his assent, and appointed
noble men to go to Tyre, and bring back the marquis with all due honour.
On the kingÕs giving his consent, a general decree was unanimously issued
for the election of the marquis, and certain men of high rank, viz., Henry
Count of Champagne, Otho de Transinges, and William de Cague, were
sent by sea with a retinue, to impart the good news to the marquis at Tyre;
but, as the proverb says, ÒThere is many a slip Ôtwixt the cup and the lip!Ó
for God proved the marquis to be unworthy of the kingdom; and as a
further evidence of his judgment of him, we may add this:that after the
departure of the French, King Richard had asked the marquis, as he had
often done before, for the aid which was required to recover the kingdom,
as we have already said, but he refused it obstinately, so that blame must
deservedly be imputed to him; and over and above this, he was diligently
plotting against the honour of the kingÕs crown, and the army at Ascalon,
by entering into a treaty of peace with Saladin, on the conditions that he
should come to him and swear to observe concord hereafter, and that the
Christians should have a share of the city of Jerusalem; and that he should
have the fortress of Baruth, and Sidon, and half the land on this side the
river Jordan. To those terms Saladin readily assented in spite of his brother,
who opposed them; and, as we heard afterwards, constantly persuaded
Saladin to agree to no conditions of peace with any of the Christians
without the consent of King Richard. ÒThere is not a better man than he in
Christendom,Ó said Saphadin; Ònor has he his match for probity; and I will
neither advise, nor assent to the confirmation of peace, unless with his
consent and privity.Ó By these means the infamous design was abandoned,
and the treason failed of success. The existence of this plot was clearly
proved afterwards; for during the time that ambassadors were going to
and fro, between Saladin and the marquis, to arrange and negotiate the
matter, Stephen de Tornehan happened to meet them coming out of

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