ABSTRACT
And when the richs homens heard the wish of all the men of the host, they went to the Lord King all together and said to him : “ Lord, how is it with you ? For the love of God have pity upon this wretched people which is thus imploring you. There is no lord on earth, be he Christian or Saracen, has such a cruel heart that he would not have pity. Therefore, as they so urgently beseech you, you must have much more pity on them, for many reasons, which these worthy men have told you already, and which are all true. And all the more as you have seen the cruel answer the Pope has made you. Wherefore believe that all this comes truly from God ; for if it had pleased Him that your intention should be fulfilled by your being in this place, it would have pleased Him that the Pope should have granted you help. But it did not please Him that he should grant it to you, because you should go and help this wretched people, And again, Lord, you can see that this pleases God, for you know well that the people’s voice is God’s voice, and you see this your people of this host all cry : ‘ To Sicily.’ Then, Lord, what are you waiting for ? We all offer, for ourselves and for all the host, to follow you and are ready to accept death, and will deal death for the honour
