54 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

Count Henry married Conrad’s widow, as thepeople proposed and Richard consented to, and inher right, Henry became King of Jerusalem, dejure,no doubt; let him conquer it, and he is so de facto.It was a compliment, to France as well as England,for he was nephew to both. But Palestine was amost disunited land. To every event oppositecolourings. Falsity and treason. No repose orcandour. No confiding in any one. Even theFrench disaffected. Not contented with the twenty,three hundred of the chiefs of the Franks met in aplain on horseback, and chose twelve commissaries;and these chose three arbiters, who had to decidewhether to attack Jerusalem or not, and also came tothe same resolution—No! This was in July. 1192.As to the Franks being on horseback in council, suchis always the custom with them, says Boha-eddin.

Count Henry offered to reign as vassal of Saladin,who instantly was angry at the proposal. 1 KingRichard then wrote to Saladin: “ That as he did notthink he had himself any right to sacrifice his ownsubjects, neither did he suppose the soldan thoughthe had any such over his; that therefore, for bothChristians and Moslems, it was better to make peace.My nephew is at your service at the head of theChris-

1 Arab. Chron., 346.