Α.Ό. 1250, &c ] JOINVTLLE VISITS THE KING AT CUBS AREA. 483 They performed another ceremony, by driving a dog between them and us, as we were divided into two bodies, and then cutting hiin to pieces with their swords, saying, " Let those be thus mangled who shall foil in their engagements to each other." Another wonderful story this knight of Coney told the king. He said, that in the country of the Commains, when a great and powerful prince died, on his decease an immense grave was made, and the dead person, most richly adorned, was seated in a magnificent chair within the grave, and the finest horse he had possessed, together with one of his officers, were let down alive in the grave. The officer, before he descended, took leave of the king and the other great personages present, when the king gave to him a large quantity of gold and silver coin, which he placed in a scarf round his neck, the king making him promise that on his erri vai in the other world he would restore to him his money, which he faithfully engaged to do. After this, the king gave him a letter addressed to the first of their monarchs, in which he told him, that the bearer of it had well and faithfully served him, and on that account entreated he would properly reward him. When this was done, the grave was filled up over the corpse, the living officer, and the horse, and covered with planks well nailed together. Before night there was a considerable mound of stones piled over the grave, in memory of those whom they bad interred. When it was near Easter I left Acre, and went to visit the king at Csesarea, where he was employed in fortifying and enclosing it. On my arrival, I found him in conversation with the legate, who bad never left him during this expedition to the Holy Land. On seeing me, he quitted the legate, and coming to me, said, " Lord de Joinville, is it really true that I have only retained you until this ensuing Easter ? Should it be so, I beg you will tell me how much I shall give you from this Easter to that of this time twelve months." I replied, that I was not come to him to make such a bargain, and that I would not take more of his money ; but I would offer other terms, which were, that he should promise never to fly into a passion for any thing I should say to him, which was often the case, and I engaged that I would keep my temper whenever be refused what I should ask. 2 ι 2