Memoirs | Page 6

as we should have served him."
Such was his pleasure that he refused. And be it known to you that he
might have done much better. The envoys charged Geoffry of Joinville
to make the self-same offer to the Count of Bar-le-Duc, Thibaut, who
was cousin to the dead count, and he refused also.
Very great was the discomfort of the pilgrims, and of all who were
about to go on God's service, at the death of Count Thibaut of
Champagne; and they held a parliament, at the
beginning, of the month, at Soissons, to determine what they should do.
There were present Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault, the Count
Louis of Blois and Chartres, the Count Geoffry of Perche, the Count
Hugh of Saint- Paul, and many other men of worth.
Geoffry the Marshal spake to them and told them of the offer made to
the Duke of Burgundy, and to the Count of Bar-le-Duc, and how they
had refused it. " My lords," said he, " listen, I will advise you of
somewhat if you will

11
consent thereto. The Marquis of Montferrat* is very worthy and valiant,
and one of the most highly prized of living men. If you asked him to
come here, and take the sign of the cross and put himself in place of the
Count of Champagne, and you gave him the lordship of the host, full
soon would he accept thereof."
[note: Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat, was one of the most
accomplished men of the time, and an approved soldier. His little court
at Montferrat was the resort of artist and troubadour. His family was a
family of Crusaders. The father, William of Montferrat, had gone
overseass and fought valiantly against the infidel. Boniface's eldest
brother, William of the Long Sword, married a daughter of the titular
King of Jerusalem, and their son became titular king in turn. Another
brother, Conrad, starting for the Holy Land, stopped at Constantinople,
and did there such good service that the Greek emperor gave his sister
to him in marriage; but afterwards fearing the perfidy of his
brother-in-law, Conrad fled to Syria, and there battled against Saladin.
Yet another brother, Renier, also served in the Greek Empire, married
an Emperor's daughter, and received for guerdon of his deeds the
kingdom of Salonika. Boniface himself had fought valiantly against
Saladin, been made prisoner, and afterwards liberated on exchange. It
was no mean and nameless knight that Villehardouin was proposing as
chief to the assembled Crusaders, but a princely noble, the patron of
poets, verrsed in state affairs, and possessing personal experience of
Eastern warfare. I extract these details from M. Bouchet's Notice].
Many were the words spoken for and against; but in the end all agreed,
both small and great. So were letters written, and envoys chosen, and
the marquis was sent for. And he came, on the day appointed, through
Champagne and the Isle-de-France, where he received much honour,
and specially from the King of France, who was his cousin.
BONIFACE, MARQUIS OF MONTFERRAT, BECOMES CHIEF OF
THE CRUSADE - NEW CRUSADERS - DEATH OF GEOFFRY
COUNT OF PERCHE
So he came to a parliament assembled at Soissons; and the main part of
the counts and barons and of the other Crusaders were there assembled.
When they heard that the marquis was coming, they went out to meet
him, and did him much honour. In the morning the parliament was held

in an orchard belonging to the abbey of our Lady of Soissons. There
they besought the marquis to do as they had desired of him, and prayed
him, for the love of God, to take the cross, and accept the leadership of
the host, and stand in the place of Thibaut Count of Champagne, and
accept of his money
12
and of his men. And they fell at his feet, with many tears; and he, on
his part, fell at their feet, and said he would do it right willingly.
Thus did the marquis consent to their prayers, and receive the lordship
of the host. Whereupon the Bishop of Soissons, and Master Fulk, the
holy man, and two white monks whom the marquis had brought with
him from Ws own land, led him into the Church of Notre Dame, and
attached the cross to his shoulder. Thus ended this parliament, and the
next day he took leave to return to his own land and settle his own
affairs-telling them all to settle their own affairs likewise, for that he
would meet them at Venice.
Thence did the marquis go to attend the

Chapter at
Citeaux, which is held on Holy Cross Day in September (14th
September 1241). There he found a great number of abbots, barons and
other people of Burgundy; and Master Fulk went