A.D. 1249.] ARRIVAL OF TUE COUNT DE POITIERS. consequence of this knowledge, entered the camp as soon as the guard had made its round, and committed many disorders and murders. The king, when he heard of this, gave orders for those who were wont to go the rounds on horseback henceforward to do so on foot; by this means the army was in security; for we were so closely encamped that we touched each other, and there were no void spaces. W e remained a long time in and before Damietta ; for the king had none in his council who advised him to march further, until his brother, the count de Poitiers, whom the storms had driven, as before mentioned, to Acre, was returned : for he had with him the arrière ban of France. From fear that the Turks might force the camp with their cavalry, the king ordered it to be surrounded with deep ditches ; and on their banks there were numerous parties of cross-bows and others, who watched during the nights. The feast of St, Reray had passed without the army receiving any news from the count de Poitiers or his men. This alarmed the king greatly, and the army were in much distress ; for they began to fear, from his not coming, that be was either dead, or in very great danger. I then recollected the worthy dean of Maura, and told the legate how, by means of the three processions which he made us perform when at sea, we were delivered from the great peril we were in, as I have already related. The legate believed what I said, and ordered three processions to be proclaimed throughout the army, to be put into practice the three following Saturdays. The first procession began at the house of the legate, and proceeded to the church of our Lady in the town of Damietta. This church had been a mosque of the Turks and Saracens ; but the legate had consecrated it to the honour of the Mother of God, the glorious Virgin Mary. Thus was it continued for two Saturdays: and each time the legate preached a sermon. The king and the great lords attended, to whom, after they had heard the sermon, the legate gave absolution. Before the third Saturday, the count de Poitiers arrived with his men, and fortunately for him be did not come earlier ; for during the space of the two preceding Saturdays there were such continued storms at sea