Α.Ό. 1248 . THE ΚΏΓβ OP PRAKCE SUPPLICATES THE POPE. 299 council was dissolved, not without great indignation, and every one returned home disappointed of his hope. As, therefore, the king found it necessary to procure some treasure, because he was in a short tune about to send a military expedition into Guienne, against Gascon, the son of the countess de Briarde, a most ungrateful traitor, who had laid waste the territories of the lord the king, he addressed earnest entreaties to many religious men separately, begging them to stretch out the hand of liberality to him, as he was destitute of wealth, and promising them a grateful requital at a seasonable opportunity. Which request they (although harassed on all sides) laboured zealously to gratify, to such a degree, that, to say nothing of others, he obtained a hundred pounds from one single abbot, namely, the abbot of Romsey. Moreover, he ordered all the vessels, and utensils, and jewels, throughout his dominions to be sold according to weight, without having any regard to the gold with which the silver vessels were inlaid, or to the workmanship, however skilful and laborious it might be, and although it might exceed the material itself in value. But when the autumnal equinox made the weather pleasant, the lord the king of France, having first received the solemn sacraments at Saint Denis, and the other sacred places in his kingdom, and having renewed his vow, set out on an expedition to Jerusalem, and passing through Lyons, where the pope was staying, he saluted him with humility and devotion, and entreated him earnestly that, as the ecclesiastical honour was now in all respects safe, since Frederic was now thoroughly humbled and sued for pardon, he would' grant him the form of reconciliation, and follow the footsteps of Christ whose vicar on earth he is well known to be, so as at least to open to the penitent the breast of moderate pity, in consequence of which the road would be safer for the pilgrim. But when he saw the lord the pope preparing the countenance of contradiction to this request, the lord the king departed in sorrow, saying : " I fear that when I have departed hostile measures will be prepared for my country, on account of your execrable hard-heartedness to my neighbours. Let it not be attributed to you if the business of the Holy Land is hindered (which may God forbid), nevertheless, do not permit France to be attacked, but rather take care that she is guarded as the apple of your eye, as the country in which the condition of Christianity de