A.D. 1250.] COUNCIL HELD BT THE SARACENS. 443 led us into another tent, where we had miserable cheer. Numbers of knights and other men were confined in a large court, surrounded with walls of mud. The guards of this prison led them out one at a time, and asked each if he would become a renegado : those that answered in the affirmative were put aside, but those who refused, instantly had their heads cut off. Shortly after, the council of the sultan sent for us, and demanded to whom it was most agreeable they should deliver the sultan's message. W e unanimously answered, by means of an interpreter, who spoke both French and Saracen, to the count Peter of Brittany. This was the message : " My lords, the sultan asks by us if you wish to be free, and what you are willing to give for your liberty ? " To this the earl of Brittany replied, that we all heartily wished to be delivered from the hands of the sultan, who had made us suffer most unreasonably. But when the council of the sultan asked if we would not be willing to give for our ransom some of the castles of the barons of' the Holy Land, the earl of Brittany answered, that we could not possibly comply ; for these castles and strong placés belonged to the emperor of Germany,* now on the throne, and who would never consent to the sultan holding any fiefs nnder him. The council then asked if we would not surrender some of the castles belonging to the Knights Templars, or to the hospital of Rhodes, for our deliverance. The earl replied, that that was equally impossible ; for it would be contrary to the accustomed oath which the governors or lords of such castles take on their investiture, when they solemnly swear to God that they will never surrender these castles for the deliverance of any man whatever. The Saracens then spoke together, saying, that it did not appear we had any desire to regain our liberty ; and that they wonld send us those who well knew how to use'their swords, to treat us as the others had been dealt with, and on that they left us. Not long after the sultan's council had departed, a tall old Saracen, of goodly appearance, came to us, accompanied by a great multitude of young Saracens, each of whom had a large sword by his side, which alarmed us much. The old Saracen * Frederic II., who had been crowned king of Jerusalem, and held all the places in the kingdom.