1859

Oct. 1. Acre. P. Cesariensis archiepiscopus, H. Nazarenus archiepiscopus, R. Bethlemitanus episcopus, M. abbas Templi Domini, J. abbas Montis Sion, R. abbas Vallis Josaphath, D. abbas Montis Oliveti, A. abbas Montis Thabor and F. abbas Sancte Marie de Latina inform King Philip II of France of the poverty and desolation of the Holy Land. The Christians hold only the cities of Tyre and Acre, outside which Corradinus is cutting down trees and vines and destroying casalia and houses, so that nothing remains but a few viridaria close to the walls of Acre and Tyre. Milites, citizens [cives] and people are reduced to such misery that many are fleeing to Cyprus, [Cilician] Armenia and other countries to beg for help. The city of Tyre is deserted and only the king and his army maintains custody of it and Acre, but the expenses of this obligation are so great that he is himself reduced to poverty. The city revenues have declined to nothing, because the merchants are no longer coming with their merchandise. The pilgrim traffic has dried up. Nearly every one has gone to Damietta, but it has been poverty that has forced the king to leave the army [in Egypt] and return to Acre. All the revenues of the cities are pledged to creditors and the king cannot find any one to change his money. They appeal to the king of France for assistance.