Arsuf paid Godfrey no tribute, and the hostage from the town guaranteeing their treaty escaped, while Gerard of Avesnes, the crusader hostage, was imprisoned in Arsuf. Godfrey decided to attack the town with the few soldiers left after the mass departures. They included William of Montpellier, Garnier of Grez, Galdemar Carpinel, Wicher the German and Franco of Mechelen. After six weeks of siege, Gerard of Avesnes and Lambert were raised on masts, taunted by the besieged and forced to plead for their lives with the besiegers: they would be spared if Arsuf was spared. Godfrey refused, claiming he would refuse such a plea from his own brother. The pair were both shot. The collapse of a tower killed Franco of Mechelen and others, and left Rothold and Peter the Lombard (knights from Jerusalem) dangerously exposed near the town's wall. They succeeded in escaping the enemy fire and returned to their comrades. Godfrey reproved his men for effeminacy and Arnold of Choques blamed everybody for hard-heartedness over Gerard and Lambert, urging remorse and confession. But the siege made no progress. In December Godfrey returned to Jerusalem, leaving a small force at Ramla to harry Arsuf. They did no good, and soon followed him. During the siege, Godfrey was humbly sitting on the ground; asked why he did not have a more luxurious seat, he answered that the ground was enough for a mortal, for whom, after death, it will be a permanent home