Louis eventually negotiated his and his men's release.
As soon as the Saracens had sworn the king promised the emirs that he would
willingly pay the 500,000 pounds for the deliverance of his people
and he would return Damietta to secure his own release,
since a man of his rank should not buy his freedom with money.
Louis was loyal, he not only kept his oaths, and those he swore.
But he showed a steadfastness to the cause, especially the cause of Crusade,
that is truly remarkable.
Once released from prison,
he had done his duty and was free, morally, to return to France.
The matter, in fact, was debated at royal council.
Joinville writes, this is what he, [my Lord Guy Mauvoisin] told the king.
My lord, your brothers and the great men here have considered your situation.
And have concluded, that for your own honor and that of your kingdom,
you cannot remain in this country.
Out of all the knights who came in your company,
you brought 2,800 to Cyprus, not a hundred remain in the city.
So they advise you, my lord, to go to France, and raise men and
money with which you might speedily return to this country.
In order to avenge yourself on the enemies of God, who held you in their prison.
Louis, however, went against the wishes of his councilors, and
decided to stay as long as his men were there.
I have considered, he said, what the barons of this land are saying.
That if I leave the kingdom of Jerusalem will be lost,
since no one will dare to stay there after I have gone.
And so I have determined that I will not for any price leave the kingdom
of Jerusalem to be lost, since I came to conquer and defend it.
My decision is to stay for the time being.