obtained the kings licence and safeconduct, might safely worship at
Hierusalem. Of which nauie the chiefest and best spoken repairing to the
king, spake to him in this maner. Christ preserue the Kings life, and
prosper his kingdome from day to day; Wee, being men and souldiours of
Christian profession, haue, through the helpe of God, sayled hither through
mightie and large seas, from the farre countreys of England, Flanders, and
Denmarke, to worship at Ierusalem, and to visit the sepulchre of our Lord.
And therefore we are assembled to intreat your clemency touching the
matter, that by your fauour and safe conduct we may peaceably goe vp to
Ierusalem, and worship there, and so returne.


Chap. 2.

The king fauourably hearing their whole petition, granted vnto them a
strong band of men to conduct them, which brought them safely from all
assaults and ambushes of the Gentiles by the knowen wayes vnto Ierusalem
and all other places of deuotion. After that these pilgrims, and new
Christian strangers were brought thither, they offering vnto our Lord their
vowes in the temple of the holy sepulchre, returned with great ioy, and
without all let vnto Ioppa; where finding the king, they vowed they would
assist him in all things, which should seeme good vnto him: who, greatly
commending the men, and commanding them to be well entertained with
hospitality, answered that he could not on the sudden answere to this
point, vntill that after he had called his nobles together, he had
consulted with my lord the Patriarch what was most meet and conuenient to
be done, and not to trouble in vaine so willing an army. And therefore
after a few dayes, calling vnto him my lord the Patriarch, Hugh of Tabaria,
Gunfride the keeper and lieutenant of the tower of Dauid, and the other
chiefest men of warre, he determined to haue a meeting in the city of