distance of a two Months Voyage from his Houfe and Home, and in the very bloom "of his days, to abftract himself from the Pleafures his Age is fond of: I am fure it can "be no great hardship upon me, who am here, in the heart of my Dominions, in the midft of my Family and Children; where I enjoy whatever I want, in great abundance; befides, I grow old, and have no "longer a taste of Pleasures, but loath them. "Moreover, I have an Army for Winter, and an Army for Summer. Laftly, By per

fifting in the War, I am firmly perfuaded, "that I perform a moft acceptable Service to "God: nor will I defift, till it has pleafed him to adjudge the Victory to the one, or to the other."

THE Ambaffador upon hearing this, defired an Audience of Al-Malec Al-Adel. In the mean time, the Soltán was affured, that the Enemy was marched from Ptolemais to the farther relief of Jaffa whereupon, it was refolved to infeft them on their march by all poffible means; that they might not embody together, But he received Advice again, that the Enemy were fo far advanced on their way, that there would be no opportunity of molefting them; but at the fame time he was told, the King of England lay without Jaffa, with a very small number of Tents and Men. The Soltan travelled all night through by-ways, in hopes to furprize him, and at dawn he reached the Tents, which were not above ten in number. The 1 Franks took the Alarm with great prefence of Mind, though they were but feventeen Horsemen, according to fome, and no more than nine according to others, and of Foot not

above

above three or four hundred. They behaved with fuch intrepidity, and particularly the King of England in perfon, that the Soltan drew off, to avoid the fhame of being even routed by fuch a mere handful; which went the more against him, as he had fresh and deep in mind, the baulk, and repulfe, and lofs of Booty retaken, he had fo lately fuftained at this fame place,

Al-Malec Al-Adel, a very few days after this demanded a Conference with the King of England, and an Ambaffador fet out to acquaint him therewith; but he returned the very fame day with News, that the King would not admit him into the City, That he was quite dif"gusted at the difdain he was treated with by

the Soltán. That indeed he had been very "defirous of returning home; but fince the Soltán had detained him till it was now Winter, he was refolved to keep his ground, and would treat no farther."

ABOUT the middle of the next Month, the Soltan had a great acceffion of Strength, and calling together his Chiefs, he thus bespoke them: The King of England is dangerously ill; the French are doubtless meditating their return over Sea. The Enemy now exhausted, are ripe for Slaughter. Wherefore, I am for marching up to Jaffa, where if any opportunity prefents it felf, we may lay hold on it if not, we may march away for Afcalon under the covert of Night; whereby, if my generous warmth deceive me not, we may attain our end, This was determined. About the fame time, the King of England fent out for Fruit and Snow, and was copiously supplied; for his illness had brought on him a great hankering after Pears and

Peaches.

1

Peaches. The Soltan by enquiring of those who went backward and forward, informed himfelf of the ftate of Jaffa, and the Tranfactions between the discontented French and King Richard.

PRESENTLY after, the King made fresh inftances for Peace, declaring, that in all he had done hitherto he had only meant to maintain his Dignity among the Franks; and that if the Soltan would not abfolutely furrender Afcalon to him, it was to be hoped he would not think much of refunding the Charges he had been at in the Repairs there. It was anfwered, that if the King would without more ado give up Afcalon, the Peace, fo long talked of, fhould take place; for it feems, the War was grown infupportably grievous, even to the Saltan's Forces.

mod

THE Evening of the fame day, the Soltán had the agreeable Advice, that the King of Eng land had not only given up Afcalon, and would not even infift on the Charges he had been at there; but was really refolved at all events to have a Peace. The Soltán, however, could hardly think he was in earneft, and inftantly sent to have some certainty that he would not retract; and the King gave his Hand upon it, provided the Articles ftood, as regulated at the firft Treaty with Al-Malec Al-Adel.

SOME few obftacles, which were presently removed, arofe to retard the Ratification of this Peace and the final Articles were drawn up by our Hiftorian, to continue in force three Years. And being prefented to the King of England, who was fick in Bed, and not able to perufe them he defired they might be carried and laid before Count Henry and the other Princes,

Princes and the Peace was ratified with great Solemnity on both fides, without lofs of time.

THE Joy on both fides was inexpreffible, though the Soltán himfelf was far from being thoroughly pleased therewith. He declared to our Author," He dreaded any agreement "with the Enemy, and knew not what he had best to do; fearing it might one day or other prove fatal, or at least, highly detri❝mental to the Molem Intereft.”

Afcalon and Jaffa were demolished, and fuch multitudes of Pilgrims now flocked to Jerufalem, that the King of England was moved to defire of the Soltán to admit none but fuch as produced his royal Permiffion. This, when it was understood, only encreased the Number of Devotees, whom the Soltán received and protected with the greatest Hospitality; excufing himself to the King, That he could not in Confcience refufe reception to fuch as took on them fo holy a Journey. In the mean time, the King grew worfe and worse, and a Report was fpread that he was dead.

"

THE Mofem Army now disbanded, it was proclaimed, that the Soltán would take on him the Pilgrimage to Mecca, and grant efpecial Favours and Privileges to thofe of his Army who fhould attend on him thither; and great Preparations were made for this meritorious Expedition.

WE have given in this abstract many inftances of the Soltan's Valour, and admirable conftancy in War; of his Humanity, confidering the mistaken Zeal on each fide; and of his great Prudence in negotiating Affairs of the Cabinet but it remains that we give you one particular

and

and glaring Inftance of his Abilities to rule, how well he deferved that Honour, and how equal he was to that nice and important Charge; which we cannot do more effectually than by inferting here the Advice he gave to one of his Sons, who upon the breaking up. of this War, was on the point of fetting out for the Provinces he governed. The Soltan's Words to him were to this purpose: << I. in

the moft earneft manner injoin you to re"verence the Almighty, who is the chief of "all good, and religiously to keep his Com"mandments. In him, is thy Salvation. Be"ware how you fhed Blood, draw not that

on your head, for Blood once fhed never ແ fleeps. Again, I recommend it to you, "that you do your endeavour to retain the

Hearts and Affections of your People, and diligently to cherish and take care of "them; for they are not fo much committed to your charge in my Name, as in the awful Name of God. Let it be alfo recom meuded to you, to maintain a fair Underftanding and Harmony with the Chiefs, and. "Nobles, and Grandees; for I rofe not "to this lofty pitch, but by an engaging de86 portment towards all. Never bear Malice

against any Man, left Death take you off "in the midst of it. Beware alfo how you fo "much as offend any one; for Man forgives

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not till Satisfaction be made; whereas, if

you offend God, Repentance will procure "your Pardon with him, for he is Merciful."

THE Soltán being obliged to defer his Pilgrimage, determined to vifit Egypt: and haing certain Advice that the King of England was failed, he went to furvey the maritime

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