A.D. 1250, &C.] DETERMINES TO STAY AT ACRE. 4G7 had thus ordered him, and likewise to invoke the name of God and the aid of his Holy Spirit, whenever he was about to make a speech. He then continued : " My lords, I feel equally thankful to those who have advised our return to France as to those who have recommended our stay here. But, since I last saw you, I have fully considered this matter, and believe, that should we remain here, my kingdom will not the sooner be in great danger from it; for my lady-mother the queen has a sufficiency of men-at-arms to defend it. I have thought much on what the knights of this country say, that if I depart, the kingdom of Jerusalem will be lost, since no one will remain here after me. Now, my lords, having told my resolution, let such speak out boldly who wish to remain with me ; and I promise to give them emoluments, that the fault ehall not be mine but their own, if tbey do not remain. Those that may not choose to stay, God be with them." When the king had done speaking, several were as if thunderstruck, and began to weep bitterly. After the king had declared his resolution, he gave permission to his brothers to return to France ; but I know not if he did this at their requests, or whether it was the wiU of the king. This passed about St John Baptist's day. Shortly after the departure of his brothers for France, the king was impatient to learn what success those who hat} stayed with him had met with in recruiting his men-at-arms. On the feast-day of St. James, whose pilgrim I was, for the manifold kindness he had shewn me, the king, after mass, retired to bis chamber, and called to him the chiefs of his council, namely, Sir Peter the chamberlain,* who was the most loyal and upright man I ever saw of the king's household, that good knight Sir Geoffry de Sergines, the discreet Sir Giles le Brun, and others, among whom was that prudent man, to whom the king, after the death of Sir Hymbert de Beaujeu, had given the constable's sword. He asked them what numbers and sort of men they had collected for the reinforcement of his army, and with warmth continued,—" You know that it is about a month since I have declared my intention to stay * Peter ae Nemours, or de Ville-Beon, chamberlain of France, under the reign of St. Louis, whom he accompanied in his expedition to Tunis, and died there. He was buried at the king's feet, in the abbey of St, Denis.