“Sire, we see that it will not profit the kingdom of Jerusalem that you tarry longer here.  You have done what was in your power.  You have fortified the city of Sidon, and Cassarea, and Jaffa, and you have made the city of Acre much stronger than it was.  And now for your own kingdom’s sake, you must needs depart.”  And to this the King gave his consent, though with an unwilling heart.  So he departed, and this, as it chanced, on his birthday.  As the ship went forth from the harbour he said to the Lord of Joinville, who stood by him, “On this day I was born.”  And the Lord of Joinville said to him, “Truly, sire, I should say that you are beginning another life, now that you are safely quit of this land of death.”

Some seventeen years after the things last recorded, I took a journey to the Island of Sardinia, and made my abode at a town on the west coast, called Neapolis.  When I had sojourned there two months there came in sight on a certain day a great fleet of ships, which those who were acquainted with such things declared to be from the land of France.  As for the crowd that came ashore that day, it were best to say little.  It is more to the purpose to say that I met with one whom I knew, having consorted with him in time past, and this the more constantly because he followed the same occupation as I. I asked him, “How came you hither?  If you are bound for Palestine, this is but a short stage in your journey.”  He answered me with something of a smile in his eye, though his mouth was set, “Where could we more conveniently halt than here, for we are bound for Tunis?” “For Tunis?” said I; “but how shall this help you for the taking of Jerusalem?” “That,” said he, “you must ask of some one that has more wisdom than I. But this I know that the King was told, by whom I know not, that the Bey of Tunis desired to be baptised.  This, then, is cause sufficient for him.  Are you minded to come with me?  If so, I can find you a place in the King’s ship, for it is in it that I sail.”

When I heard that, I consented without delay.  So that night I gave my friend the shelter of my lodging; and the next day he took me with him, and commended me to one of the chief officers of the ship, bearing witness to my skill as a physician.  On the fourth day we sailed, and came in two days, the wind blowing from the north, to the harbour of Tunis.  As for the King, I saw him but once.  His valets carried him up on the deck; and, to tell the truth, he looked as little fit for doing feats of arms as man could look.  But I thought that the sickness which takes many men upon the sea might be the cause.

Scarce had the army landed than there began a most grievous sickness.  In truth the place for the camp had been ill chosen, for there was a little stream into which much of the filth of the city was wont to run.  From this there came a most evil smell.  Many also, for want of good water, would drink of the stream, than which there could be no more deadly thing.