A.D. 1220.] DEATH OK THE FRENCH KINO. 481 leave to return home, and on the king's refusing his permission, he. said that having served his forty days of duty he was not bound to, nor would be, stay any longer. The king then, roused to anger, deelared with an oath, that if the count went away in this way he would ravage his territory with fire and sword. The count thin, as report goes, being in love with his queen, caused some poison to be administered to the king, and being urged on by the impulses of desinile could not abide longer delay. After the departure of the count, as he had said he wouid, the king was taken dangerously ill, and, the poison working its way to his vitals, he was reduced to the point of death ; some however assert that he died not by poison but of dysentery. On the death of the king, ltonian the legate, of the apostolic see, who was present at the. siege, and the prelates bis secret advisers, who were also there, concealed tlic death of the king until the city should be surrendered ; for if the siege were to be now raised, a great reproach would be cast on them. The legate and the prelates, therefore, who were at the siege, pretended that the king was detained by severe illness, but said that in the opinion of his physicians he would soon be convalescent, and then exhorted the chiefs of the different battalions to attack the city with all their power. They preserved the king's body with large quantities of salt, and, burying his entrails in the convent, they ordered his body to be wrapped in waxed linen aud bulls' hides ; it was then placed in safe custody in the convent, and the legate and the prelates then returned to the siege. However finding that they gained no advantage, but were entirely failing owing to different misfortunes, the. legate, by the advice of the elders in the camp, sent a message, into the city asking them, on receipt of security, for safe conduct to and from the city, to send twelve of the elders of the city to the legate as soon as possible to make terms of peace. Iluir tlie city of Avignon iras token hy the French hy treachery. After hostages had been given for their safety, twelve citizens came out to a conference with the legate, when, after a long discussion about peace, he earnestly advised the citizens to surrender themselves saving their persons, their property and possessions, and all their liberties, to the utmost