150 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book n.

my brethren are afraid. We will not stay, but will gowith you. Yet you must know, that we doubt muchif ever we return.’’ But worse and worse, forduring the colloquy, the king had perceived Artois’preparations, and sent ten knights to give him adistinct specific command in his royal name notto stir, but to stay on that very spot until the Kingof France in person should come up; to which hehad the amazing insolence to answer, “that theSaracens were in full flight and that he would notstay, but on the contrary pursue them, et que ildemeroroit mie, ains les chaceroit And at the word,off he flew, and indeed took the Saracens by sur-prise, and slaughtered a great number, sparing,none, but rushing into their tents and putting themto the sword, even their women and children; andwhich being told to the atabec himself, then in thebath, and getting his beard dressed (as was theMoslem fashion at that time), he jumping up halfnaked and throwing himself on a horse, had nosooner mounted than he falls down dead, piercedwith a hundred wounds. And a worthy warriorand statesman he was; and much esteemed by theTurks for his courage also (notwithstanding hisconduct at Damietta), and had been knighted byFrederick II., and wore the imperial coat of armsalong with those of the Sultans of Egypt and