At this affair, Guy bastard of Burgundy, brother to duke Philip, Simon de Lan, Robert lord de Rebecque, and others from different countries were made knights, although no vessel was taken on either side, but one having pilgrims on board, as shall be now mentioned. While the fleets were drawing up against each other, a ship filled with pilgrims eager to acquire honour, concluding for certain, that as the Christian fleet was in sight of the Saracens, a combat must insue, advanced so near that of the infidels that they could not put back; and notwithstanding succour was instantly sent them, and that they were in sight of the king of Cyprus, they were all hacked to pieces, as butchers would chop meat in a market, excepting a very few who were detained prisoners. Some days after, the saracen fleet, having the king of Cyprus on board, sailed for Egypt. On the arrival of the Saracens in Egypt, they conducted the king of Cyprus to Cairo to the sultan of Babylon, and the other Christian prisoners chained two and two like beasts. They dragged after them the banner of the holy virgin reversed on the ground, and then followed the king mounted on a small mule without saddle and bound with chains. In this manner were they led into the presence of the sultan of Babylon, and constrained to bow their heads nine times to the very ground, kissing it each time. When they arrived in front of the sultan, who was seated in great pomp in a high gallery, he kept them a full hour in his presence, and then had them conducted to a tower for their prison so long as he should stay in Cairo, where the sultan was served royally and abundantly with all sorts of provision, excepting wine; but this was secretly supplied to him by Christian merchants. The other Cypriot prisoners were confined in divers places. While the king of Cyprus thus remained prisoner to the sultan of Babylon in Cairo, the archbishop of Nicosia, brother to the king, sent for sir Peter de Lusignan, constable of Jerusalem, and resigned to him the government of the island of Cyprus. He was no sooner in the possession thereof than he executed rigorous justice by punishing all who in these times of tribulation had attempted to revolt. Shortly after, the archbishop returned to Nicosia, which by degrees was repeopled. In the course of time, a genoese merchant, named Benedict Percussin, moved by compassion, required of the regency at Cyprus, that he might be sent to Cairo, for that he had great hopes of obtaining the king's liberty. He was accordingly sent thither, and was so successful with the sultan that he ransomed the king of Cyprus for two hundred thousand ducats, and on condition that he would also pay an annual tribute to the sultans of Babylon of five thousand ducats.