chap, i.] ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM. 117

proved of Frederick’s peace; though Templars andHospitallers could not, from their attachment toRome . 1 Before embarking for home, Frederickchose to visit Jerusalem, and there is a narrativeof it by a Moslem, who officially accompanied him.

“ The emperor was bald and red haired, andwith weak eyes. Had he been a slave, he mightsell for ten drachms. His conversation showedlittle belief in the Christian religion ; since,when speaking of it, he always turned it intojest. When noon struck, we of course said ourprayers, and the Mahometans in the suite ofthe prince, without his ever attempting to pre-vent them. Amongst them was his ancientteacher, of Sicilian origin. The cadi had ordersfrom the sultan to see that nothing ever happenedthat could displease Frederick, and, particularly,that there should he no sermon in Omar’s mosque,nor prayers proclaimed from any of the minarets.On the first day this was forgotten, so the muez-zins did as usual; even more, for one of themaffected to recite at a most elevated pitch of voicevarious passages from the Alcoran against Chris-tianity. The emperor lodged at that cadi’s, whosehouse was quite close to Omar’s minaret, and con-

1 Gozlar Chron.—Athene Chron.—Bib. Crois., iii., 126.—Bib. Crois., iii. 76.