I. Since I have seen the river Jordan and the Tomb, to thee, O God, who art Lord of Lords, do I give thanks, for it pleased thee to grant me so much honour that thou hast shown me the Holy Place wherein thou wert born, whereat my heart rejoices; for if I were now in Provence the Saracens would not call me John for a year.
II. Now may God give us a calm sea and a fair breeze, a good ship and stout pilots for I desire to return thence speedily to Marseilles; for if I were truly there across the sea, Acre and Tyre, Tripoli and the brethren, the Hospital and the Temple and King John would I commend to the care of God, and the waters of Roland (Jordan?) likewise.
III. For England has poor compensation for King Richard; and France with its lilies, was wont to have a good king and worthy lords, Spain another noble ruler and Montferrat a good marquis likewise, and the Empire an honourable Emperor; but as for those who are now in their place, I do not know how they will behave.
IV. Fair Lord God, if thou didst act according to my mind, thou wouldst take good care whom thou didst create emperors and make kings and to whom thou gavest castles and strongholds; for the richer men are, the more they hold thee to scorn. For I saw the Emperor take many an oath last year which he now seeks to evade, as did the Gascon whom thou didst deliver from trouble.
V. Emperor, Damietta awaits you and night and day the White Tower weeps for your eagle [standard] which a vulture has cast down therefrom; cowardly is the eagle that is captured by a vulture! Shame is thereby yours and honour accrues to the Sultan, and besides the shame, you all suffer such hurt in that he is ever decreasing (?) there the dominion of our faith.
