CHAP. I.] ST.JOHN OF JERUSALEM. 77

Saladin’s death in March . 1 But he was so astonish-ing a person, that it is hard to say what he couldnot do. Who durst deny but in the short space ofa few months, it is barely possible that what istold he may have executed, during some militaryrecognisance into the immediate vicinity of thattown, before his mortal sickness? At all events therumour shows the public opinion at that time.“ Master Saladin, King of Babylon, who commandedover thirty kings, having heard surprising mattersof the hospital at Acre, determined on taking astick, and piece of old carpet for cloak, fumbling itround him as well as he could, and came straightto Acre, feigning grievous sickness; and hobbling,inquired whether, for the love of God, they couldlodge him. On which he was received at once, andinvited to lie down at his ease, and a little after,asked what he wished to eat. He who desired tobe thought sick, declared he did not care for eating,but for God’s sake to allow him to repose, as beingvery tired, and that he had long wished to die, sothey let him sleep all that day and night. Thenext day the infirmarians asked what he would eat,but he assured them that not only he did not wishto eat, hut could not. ‘ Friend,’ replied the in-

1 Appendix, Nuni. xlix.