Experimental

Everything on an Envelope

[on front of envelope]

[stamp]

[postmark]

Fulham

10-AM

24AUG

1970

S.W.6.

5D

[in blue ink]

[in pencil] [in pencil]

Sultan J. D. Porter. Esq. 1970

13 Ryeworth R’d, 1220

Melek-el-Kamil Charlton Kings, 750.

Cheltenham.

[in pencil on back of envelope]

     750 years ago – August

5th – C  1217-21

     Andrew of Hungary        agot

     Moh. in Egypt

Damietta at mouth of Nile

     entrance to Egypt & way

     to heart of Saracen power.

     if destroyed, Holy Places would fall to

1½ yrs siege – unsuccessful attack –

     truce to bury dead await

     reinforcements.

F. decided to preach Ch. to Moh. – to

     Sultan. Mad! But if Sultan

     convinced Moh. would follow.

Asked Papal legate for permission – told

     Sultan offered gold ducat for

     every dead Christian – f

                   [incomprehensible] legate [incomprehensible]

     overjoyed – got permission – mad. [incomprehensible]

[in pencil on inside of envelope]

p. 197

1 Brother with him – death certain after well-known

Torture ending with beheading.

Crossed desert no-man’s land – reigned[?] – maltreated –

but not killed – thought to be mad: Allah

bids men spare the mad.

Only words were “Soldan Soldan” – taken to nobles who

     could talk Jlabain – surprisingly they spoke

     to Sultan & he said it would be amusing to see them

Carpet of crosses – if tread, insulting his God ‌‌‌|

                   if refuses,        Sultan    | !

Jesus died bet. 2 thieves – we have true cross – crosses

     of thieves we leave to you.

Listened – tmched[?] – told to stay for further talks

Sultan “Stay with me”.

F      “If you and your people become Chr.”

So F offered his death. If you hesitate as to which is the true

     I and your priests will enter a great fire together

     & you will see”. “I doubt if my priests will agree”

     Then I will alone – if I survive, you and people Chr”

     Refused – Turks would not have agreed

     F returned – Sultan said “Pray for me”.

Failure? But God was all one for Him

     F had told S. that

after his death, he would send 2 Fr. to

baptise

Sultan dying – F in dream

to 2 Fr. Sultan “Now

I know God has”

got to have my Soul.”

Died Chr

M.J.Cheeseman

About the Author and Text

M.J. Cheeseman is half-way through PhD in Folklore. ‘Everything on an Envelope’ is based on a creamy-coloured envelope found in a book bought from the Red Cross shop on Bath Road.