A.D. 1221.] CONDITION OF THF. HOLY LAND. 433 position of it seemed impregnable. The king, therefore, for the security of that district ordered a eastle to be built there, on account of the well-known incursions of the Welsh ; and then all, having obtained permission, returned home, the nobles being allowed to depart on payment of two marks of silver for each scutcheon. Of the condition of the Holy hand after the capture of Damiella and Tannis, [About this time the. master of the knights of the temple sent the following letter on the state of affairs in the. Holy Land:]—"To our reverend brother in Christ N., by the grace of (led, bishop of Klimenum, Peter de Montacutc, master of the knights of the temple, greeting. How we have proceeded in the business of our Lord Jesus Christ since the capture of Daniietta and the castle of Tannis, we by these present letters set forth to your holiness. He it known to you then that, in the first passage after the aforesaid captures, such a number of pilgrims arrived at Damietta that, with the rest of the army which remained, they were sufficient to garrison Damietta and to defend the cam]). Our lord the legate and the clergy, desirous to advance the cause of the army of Christ, often and earnestly exhorted the people to make an attack on the infidels, but the nobles of the army, as well those of the transmarine provinces as those on our side of the water, thinking that the army was not sufficient for the defence of the aforesaid cities and castles, and at the saine time to proceed further for the advantage of Christianity, would not consent to this plan ; for the sultan of Babylon, with an innumerable host of infidels, had pitched his camp near Damietta, and on each arm of the river had built bridges to obstruct the progress of the Christians, and was there waiting with such an immense army that the crusaders, by proceeding further would incur the greatest danger. Nevertheless we fortified the said city and camp and the coast round with trenches in all directions, expecting to be consoled by the Lord with the assistance o f those who were coming to help us ; the Saracens, however, seeing our deficiency, armed all their galleys and sent them to sea in the month of September, and these caused great loss vol.. it. F F