108 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book n.

military orders, from quarter, we propose a changeand wish to send you with that intent to the sultanon this condition, that you promise to return withan answer, when if it be (which God forbid) in thenegative, it afflicts me to have to state, that youmust submit to fair reprisals; except only that weshall use no torture, which so many Hospitallersand Templars have undergone from you.”—“ Super-fluous totally is your pity,” replied the captive,“ for I am as ready to go joyous to death as any ofyou; I can speak as pure English as any of you, orpurer. So need none of your foreign gibberish.What , Sir Turk ? What Damascus ? My name isSt. Alban} Was not my cousin , Sir Thomas Mon-tacute , your Grand Master ? My other cousin of thesame noble house your Hospitaller ? 2 My father wasa Knight Templar as you are, and wore the whitemantle like you, but had the grace to be enlightened,and abjuring his false creed fled to the magnificentSaladin, who received him kindly, and gave himwealth, and a high command, and his own niece inmarriage ; 3 so (Allah be praised) I was brought upin the true • religion. Look on me sharp, and youwill recollect me. Is not my skin as milky as that of

1 Hoveden.—Bib. Crois., ii. 775.

1 2 Scb. Paoli: Osscrvazioni, i. 515.—Appendix, xc.

3 llovcden: 1187.—Bib. Crois., ii. 775.