246 THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OF [book. U.

being present may possibly appear an infraction;and therefore, not to scandalise 3mu, cherishedbrethren, I have some documents to prove I hadsworn to the population that, useless as I hadbecome from my wounds, I should endeavour tosurvive for the purpose of leading away as many asI could from the Acre slaughter, as was likewisemy duty, as sovereign of that unfortunate city.And I plead it is an exception no way derogatoryto what continues our standing statute, that noneshall recede without command, and that a knightof ours made prisoner is a knight dead. Withregard to the few of our knights who came with me,they have no excuse to make, since they had myorders, for which the entire responsibility is mine,in consideration of their wounded condition, andthat it would be an idle sacrifice of lives. Readthese affidavits then; and I am ready either to bedeposed, or even suffer death, or obtain your entireapproval of my conduct, according to what youmay determine, for which I retire.”

And after some minutes the whole chapter fol-lowed Villiers, and declared him completely vindi-cated, and humbly besought him not to abandonthem.

“ Then abandon you I will not, but persevere inbeing your grand master and loving father; and