In the years when Saladin was King, there lived a Prince in Galilee,
who was named Sir Hugh of Tabarie. On a day he was with other Christian
men who gave battle to the Turks, and, since it pleased God to cast His
chivalry behind Him, Sir Hugh was taken prisoner, and many another
stout knight with him. When dusk closed down on the field, the Prince
was led before Saladin, who, calling him straightway to mind, rejoiced
greatly and cried--
"Ah, Sir Hugh, now are you taken."
"Sire," answered the brave knight, "the greater grief is mine."
"By my faith, Hugh, every reason have you for grief, since you must
either pay your ransom or die."
"Sire, I am more fain to pay ransom than to die, if by any means I may
find the price you require of me."
"Is that truly so?" said the King.
"Sire," said Sir Hugh, "in the fewest words, what is the sum you demand
of me?"
"I ask of you," replied the King, "one hundred thousand besants."
"Sire, such a sum is too great a ransom for a man of my lands to pay."
"Hugh," said the King, "you are so good a knight, and so hardy, that
there is none who hears of your prison and this ransom, but will gladly
send of his riches for your ease."
"Sire," said he, "since thus it must be, I promise to pay the sum you
require, but what time do you grant me to find so mighty a ransom?"
"Hugh," said the King, "I accord you the grace of one year. If within
the year you count me out the tale of these besants, I will take it
gladly; but if you fail to gain it, then must you return to your
prison, and I will hold you more willingly still."
"Sire, I pledge my word and my faith. Now deliver me such a safe
conduct that I may return in surety to my own land."
"Hugh, before you part I have a privy word to speak to you."
"Sire, with all my heart, and where?"
"In this tent, close by."
When they were entered into the pavilion, the Emperor Saladin sought to
know of Sir Hugh in what fashion a man was made knight of the Christian
chivalry, and required of him that he should show it to his eyes.
"Sire, whom then should I dub knight?"
"Myself," answered the King.
"Sire, God forbid that I should be so false as to confer so high a gift
and so fair a lordship even upon the body of so mighty a prince as
you."
"But wherefore?" said the King.
"For reason, sire, that your body is but an empty vessel."
"Empty of what, Sir Hugh?"
"Sire, of Christianity and of baptism."
"Hugh," said he, "think not hardly of me because of this. You are in my
hand, and if you do the thing that I require of you, what man is there
to blame you greatly when you return to your own realm. I seek this
grace of you, rather than of another, because you are the stoutest and
most perfect knight that ever I may meet."
"Sire," said he, "I will show you what you seek to know, for were it
but the will of God that you were a christened man, our chivalry would
bear in you its fairest flower."
"Hugh," said he, "that may not be."
Thereupon Sir Hugh made ready all things necessary for the making of a
knight; and having trimmed the hair and beard of the King in seemly
fashion, he caused him to enter within a bath, and inquired--
"Sire, do you understand the meaning of this water?"
"Hugh, of this I know nothing."
"Sire, as the little child comes forth from the waters of baptism clean
of sin, so should you issue from this bath washed pure of all stain and
villainy."
"By the law of the Prophet, Sir Hugh, it is a fair beginning."
Then Sir Hugh brought the Sultan before an untouched bed, and having
laid him therein, he said--
"Sire, this bed is the promise of that long rest in Paradise which you
must gain by the toils of chivalry."
So when the King had lain softly therein for a little space, Sir Hugh
caused him to stand upon his feet, and having clothed him in a fair
white vesture of linen and of silk, said--
"Sire, this spotless stole you first put on is but the symbol of a body
held and guarded clean."