CHAP. III.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

203

weeks after the breach of truce, and the murder ofsome Mahometans, as has been related, a meeting ofcitizens was held at Acre, where, after some fierceand vain debates, the majority resolved to send anembassy to Egypt with presents to excuse the city,and impute the blame to the real criminals, thestrange recruits . 1 And on the deputation’s designbeing known, yet previous to regular audience, aprivy counsel at Cairo took lamentable cognisanceof the business; “ it having been decided already thatwe should take advantage of the least pretext toarm, and finish the ruin of the Christian colonies,(though our emirs began to desire repose, and towish enjoying the riches acquired in theirnumerous victories), the treaty was extended on atable before us, to look out for anything toauthorize what we desired ; 2 and, after ripe reflec-tion, Fakr-eddin divided with those who found nojust reason for recommencing hostilities. “ As forme,’’ said Moha-eddin, U I had not spoken oneword up to that moment, when turning roundtowards me, he asked my opinion. I replied,‘Mine? I am always of the sultan’s. If he wishto annul the treaty, I declare it null; if to maintainit, valid! ’—‘ It is not of that I speak,’ retortedFakr-eddin; ‘we know the sultan is for war.’ I

1 Michaud: Hist., v. 125. 2 Arab. Chron., 568.