118 ItOU EU OK WEN DOVER. [A.D. 1192. that of his hair and lengthened beard. The king gazed fur some time in astonishment at the hermit, and then asked him what he wanted with him. The holy man, delighted at the king's arrival, took him with him into his oratory, and there removing a stone from the wall, he drew forth a wooden cross, and devoutly held it out to the king, declaring that without doubt this cross was made from the wood of our Lord's cross. He also, amongst other things, told the king that he would not by any means obtain possession of that country at present, although he had acted most ]erseveriiigly, and, in order that the king might the more readily put faith in what he said, he declared that he should himself depart this life on the seventh day from that time. The king, in order to prove the event of his words, took the hermit with him to his camp, and, as he had foretold, he died on the seventh day after. Of the miserable death of the duke of Burgundi/. On the day after these events the king moved his camp, and, following the route of the duke of Burgundy, pitched his camp near that chief outside the city of Acre ; but scarcely had lie anil his weary army rested for three days, when there came to hint in alarm some messengers, who had been sent from .Toppa with the news that Saladin with his whole army had laid siege to that city, which they said would soon be captured, and the knights and soldiers, whom he had placed there as a garrison, be slain, unless he could soon bring assistance to the besieged. At receipt of this intelligence the whole Christian army was thrown into great alarm and sorrow: amongst the rest king Richard in a state of great anxiety endeavoured both by bis own exertions and those of others to bring back the offended duke of Burgundy to terms of agreement and peace, and earnestly begged him to give his assistance to prevent such a great calamity. That chief, however, disdained to listen to their entreaties, and not wishing to be annoyed by their requests, set out with his followers that night towards Tyre ; but immediately on his arrival there he was struck by a visitation of Cod, and becoming insane, terminated his life by a miserable death..