Bailiffs dispossess

“ From henceforth we command that our provosts am I bailiffs dispossess no man from the season which he hold; without full enquiry, or Our own especial order; and that they impose upon Our people no new exactions, taxes an imposts; and that they compel no one to come forth to d service in arms, for the purpose of exacting money from him for We order that none who owes Us service in arms shall b summoned to join the host without sufficient cause, and that those who would desire to come to the host in person should not be compelled to purchase exemption by money Daymen “ Moreover, we forbid Our bailiffs and provosts forever com, wine and other merchandise from being taken out c Our kingdom, save for sufficient cause; and when it is convenient that these goods should not be taken out of the kingdom, the ordinance shall be made publicly, in the council of worthy and competent elders, and without suspicion of fraud or misdoing.

“ Similarly We ordain that all bailiffs, viscounts, provosts, me mayors do remain, after they have left office, for the pace of forty days in the land where such office has been exercised remaining there in person, or by deputy so that . hey may answer to the new bailiffs in respect of any wrong one to such as may wish to bring a complaint against them.”

By these ordinances the king did much to improve the condition of the kingdom.

REFORM OF THE PROVOSTSHIP OF PARIS

The provostship of Paris was at that time sold to the citizens of Paris, or indeed to any one; and those who bought he office upheld their children and nephews in wrongdoing; nd the young folk relied in their misdoings on those who copied the provostship. For which reason the mean people were greatly downtrodden; nor could they obtain entice against the rich, because of the great presents and if its that the latter made to the provosts tour bulgaria.

Whenever at that time any one spoke the truth before the roost, and wished to keep his oath, refusing to perjure himself regarding any debt, or other matter on which he was found to give evidence, then the provost levied a fine upon hat person, and he was punished. And because of the great justice that was done, and the great robberies perpetrated 1 the provostship, the mean people did not dare to sojourn I the king’s land, but went and sojourned in other provost- lips and other lordships. And the king’s land was so departed that when the provost held his court, no more than ender twelve people came thereto.

With all this there were so many malefactors and thieves 1 Paris and the country adjoining that all the land was full f them. The king, who was very diligent to enquire how are mean people were governed and protected, soon knew he truth of this matter. So he forbade that the office of provost in Paris should be sold; and he gave great and good ages to those who henceforward should hold the said office, aid he abolished all the evil customs harmful to the people; nd be caused enquiry to be made throughout the kingdom o find men who would execute good and strict justice, and 0t spare the rich any more than the poor.

Colt’s Crossing

On the following day the host lay at a place called the “ Colt’s Crossing,” where the water is very good, and there with they water the plants from which sugar comes. When we were encamped, one of my knights came to me and said: “ Lord, I have lodged you in a fairer place than you were lodged in yesterday.” “mother knight, who had chosen my yesterday’s camping-ground, sprang upon him in wrath, and cried: “ You are over-bold in speaking of any thing I may have done! ” And he sprang upon him and took him by the hair. Then I sprang upon him in turn, and hit him with my fist between the two shoulders, and he let go. And I said to him: “ Quick, out of my quarters, for, so help me God, you shall never again be follower of mine.”

The knight went away, showing great dole and sorrow, and brought to me my Lord Giles le Bran, the Constable of France; and for the great repentance that my Lord Giles saw in the knight on account of the folly he had wrought, he besought me, as instantly as he could, to take him back into my household. And I replied that I would not take him back unless the legate released me from my oath. To the legate they went, and told him of the matter; and the legate answered that he had not power to release me, because the oath was reasonable; for the knight had well deserved his punishment. And these things I relate to you so that you may keep from taking any oath which in reason it were not convenient to take; for, as the wise man says, “ Who swears lightly, lightly forswears himself.”

EXPEDITION AGAINST BELINAS AND JOINVILLE IN ERIL

On the following day the king went and encamped before the city of Assur, which in the Bible is called Tyre. There the king called together the men of note in the host, and asked them if it would be well to go and rake the city of Belinas before he went to Sayette. We all thought it would be well if the king sent his people thither; but no one advised that he should go thither himself; and with great difficulty was he dissuaded therefrom. Finally it was decided that the Count of Eu should go, and mv Lord Philip of Montfort, the Lord of Assur, my Lord Giles le Bran, Constable of trainee, my Lord Peter the Chamberlain, the Master of the temple and his brethren, and the Master of the Hospital and is bretliren also.

Emir presented his letters of credence

The king told the emir to say what was his will; and the emir presented his letters of credence, and spoke thus: “ My lord sends me to ask if you know him ? ” And the Kir answered that he did not know him, for he had never him; but that he had often heard tell of him. “ And senex that you have heard tell of my lord,” said the emir, “ marvel greatly that you have not sent him so much of you substance as would keep him for your friend like as Emperor of Germany, the King of Hungary, the Soldan Babylon, and the rest do year by year, because they of a certainty that they can only keep their lives as long ; my lord pleases. And if it does not suit you to do this, cause him to be acquitted of the tribute that he owes to tl Hospital and to the Temple, and he will cry quits with you (Now at that time the Old Man of the Mountain paid a tribe to the Temple and to the Hospital, for the Templars are Hospitallers stood in no fear of the Assassins, seeing that the Old Man had nothing to gain by the death of the Master , the Temple or of the Hospital, inasmuch as he knew well that if he caused one to be killed, another, equally goo would be put in his place. Wherefore he had no wish 1 sacrifice his Assassins in a service where there was nothing be gained.)

The king answered the emir that he would see him again the afternoon.

When the emir returned, he found the king seated so that le Master of the Hospital was on the one side of him and le Master of the Temple on the other. Then the king told emir to say again what he had said in the morning. And le emir replied he had no intention of repeating what he id said save in the presence of those who had been with the ng in the morning. Then the two masters said: “We you to repeat what you said.” And he answered late as they commanded it he would do so. Then the two asters caused him to be told, in the Saracen tongue, that he told come on the morrow and speak to them at the hospital.

When he came to them on the morrow the two masters I used him to be told that his lord was very rash in daring address such rude words to the king: and they caused n to ne told further, that if it were not for the king’s moor, to whom they had come as envoys, they should have drowned in the foul sea of Acre, in their lord’s despite. And we command you to return to your lord, and to come ick here within fifteen days, bringing to the king, on the of your lord, such letters, and such jewels, that the king ay hold himself appeased, and have you in his good grace.”