CHAP. III.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

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next spring; and certainly the Mahometans would,in this , keep strictly to their word.

The excellent old Patriarch, at passing the reso-lution, rose, and casting his eyes towards heaven,his long gray hair flowed back, and crossing hishands on his breast, he rendered thanks to God withsighs: “ Blessed be the Holy Trinity that the inhabit-ants of Acre are of one mind, and on a subject of suchimportance, have had their spirit enlightened, andtheir heart. Persevere in this noble determination,0 men of Acre! Faith and liberty! This be yourbanner; and with them you will obtain the Lord’said ! ” 1

Villiers let not the opportunity slip of testifyinghis alacrity by sailing that day itself on the desiredembassy. Why must I say all his efforts were in-effectual? Though he may have set out on his mis-sion in August, he could scarcely have reached Romeuntil the middle of October, so, after Nicholas hadwritten. 2 But even Rome, like the rest of Europe, wastoo much taken up with its own intestine squabbles,to have men or money for Palestine. And when here-entered Acre on the first days of Januaryhe knew full well, (and, though he did notreveal it to every one, lest it might have dispiritedthem, yet several of the leaders knew) that theirs

1 Michaud: Hist., v. 126. 2 Appendix, lxxvii-

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