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diff --git a/26671.txt b/26671.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..45be823 --- /dev/null +++ b/26671.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7719 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Crusaders, by John G. Edgar + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Crusaders + A Story of the Days of Louis IX. + +Author: John G. Edgar + +Release Date: September 19, 2008 [EBook #26671] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY CRUSADERS *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was made using scans of public domain works in the +International Children's Digital Library.) + + + + + + + + + Presented to Master + Thomas St. Lawrence + Stephenson as a Birthday + present from the Crew + of the yacht "Northumbria" + + Sept. 12th 1841[1] + +[Illustration: In vain were all attempts to drag him from his steed; +before his mighty battle-axe the Saracens seemed to fall as corn before +the reaper.--p. 169.] + + + + +THE + +BOY CRUSADERS: + +=A Story of the Days of Louis IX.= + +BY + +J. G. EDGAR, + +AUTHOR OF 'THE BOY PRINCES,' ETC. + +=Eight Full Page Illustrations.= + +=Edinburgh:= + +GALL & INGLIS, 6 GEORGE STREET. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +AMONG the many adventurous enterprises which rendered the age of +feudalism and chain-armour memorable in history, none were more +remarkable or important than the 'armed pilgrimages' popularly known as +the Crusades; and, among the expeditions which the warriors of mediaeval +Europe undertook with the view of rescuing the Holy Sepulchre from the +Saracens, hardly one is so interesting as that which had Louis IX. for +its chief and Joinville for its chronicler. + +In this volume I have related the adventures of two striplings, who, +after serving their apprenticeship to chivalry in a feudal castle in the +north of England, assumed the cross, embarked for the East, took part in +the crusade headed by the saint-King of France, and participated in the +glory and disaster which attended the Christian army, after landing at +Damietta--including the carnage of Mansourah, and the massacre of +Minieh. + +In writing the 'Boy Crusaders' for juvenile readers, my object has +been--while endeavouring to give those, for whose perusal the work is +intended, as faithful a picture as possible of the events which +Joinville has recorded--to convey, at the same time, as clear an idea as +my limits would permit, of the career and character of the renowned +French monarch who, in peril and perplexity, in captivity and chains, so +eminently signalised his valour and his piety. + + J. G. E. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. A FEUDAL CASTLE 9 + II. THE BROTHERS-IN-ARMS 14 + III. THE HEIRS OF THE ESPECS 21 + IV. ST. LOUIS 28 + V. TAKING THE CROSS 36 + VI. EMBARKING FOR THE EAST 41 + VII. THE ARMED PILGRIMS AT CYPRUS 45 + VIII. EASTWARD 49 + IX. AN ADVENTURE 55 + X. ON THE LADDER OF LIFE 60 + XI. THE VOYAGE 68 + XII. AT DAMIETTA 74 + XIII. INCURSIONS 82 + XIV. A RENEGADE 88 + XV. CAPTURE OF A CARAVAN 96 + XVI. A COUNCIL OF WAR 103 + XVII. FACE TO FACE 109 + XVIII. DELAY AND DANGER 113 + XIX. THE CAPTIVE 119 + XX. PASSING THE ACHMOUN 124 + XXI. THE CARNAGE OF MANSOURAH 128 + XXII. THE BATTLE 136 + XXIII. HOW JOINVILLE KEPT THE BRIDGE 142 + XXIV. THE FIRST FRIDAY IN LENT 150 + XXV. MORTIFICATIONS AND MISERIES 158 + XXVI. THE MASSACRE OF MINIEH 165 + XXVII. JOINVILLE IN PERIL 173 + XXVIII. NEWS OF DISASTER 181 + XXIX. A WOUNDED PILGRIM 185 + XXX. ST. LOUIS IN CHAINS 191 + XXXI. THE TRAGEDY OF PHARESCOUR 199 + XXXII. PERILS AND SUSPENSE 204 + XXXIII. ACRE 210 + XXXIV. A RESCUE 214 + XXXV. MISSION TO BAGDAD 222 + XXXVI. THE LAST OF THE CALIPHS 229 + XXXVII. A RECOGNITION 234 + XXXVIII. WOE TO THE CALIPH 240 + XXXIX. IN THE LION'S MOUTH 246 + XL. END OF THE ARMED PILGRIMAGE 253 + XLI. A SUDDEN DISCOVERY 260 + XLII. HOMEWARD BOUND 266 + XLIII. A ROYAL VISIT 272 + XLIV. THE FEAST OF KINGS 279 + + + + +THE BOY CRUSADERS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A FEUDAL CASTLE. + + +IT was the age of chain armour and tournaments--of iron barons and +barons' wars--of pilgrims and armed pilgrimages--of forests and forest +outlaws--when Henry III. reigned as King of England, and the feudal +system, though no longer rampant, was still full of life and energy; +when Louis King of France, afterwards canonised as St. Louis, undertook +one of the last and most celebrated of those expeditions known as the +Crusades, and described as 'feudalism's great adventure, and popular +glory.' + +At the time when Henry was King of England and when Louis of France was +about to embark for the East, with the object of rescuing the Holy +Sepulchre from the Saracens, there stood on the very verge of +Northumberland a strong baronial edifice, known as the Castle of Wark, +occupying a circular eminence, visible from a great distance, and +commanding such an extensive view to the north as seemed to ensure the +garrison against any sudden inroad on the part of the restless and +refractory Scots. On the north the foundations were washed by the waters +of the Tweed, here broad and deep; and on the south were a little town, +which had risen under the protection of the castle, and,--stretching +away towards the hills of Cheviot,--an extensive park or chase, +abounding with wild cattle and deer and beasts of game. At an earlier +period this castle had been a possession of the famous house of Espec; +and, when in after days it came into the hands of the Montacute Earls of +Salisbury, Edward III. was inspired within its walls with that romantic +admiration of the Countess of Salisbury which resulted in the +institution of the Order of the Garter. During the fifth decade of the +thirteenth century, however, it was the chief seat of Robert, Lord de +Roos, a powerful Anglo-Norman noble, whose father had been one of the +barons of Runnymede and one of the conservators of the Great Charter. + +Like most of the fortresses built by the Norman conquerors of England, +Wark consisted of a base-court, a keep, and a barbican in front of the +base-court. The sides of the walls were fortified with innumerable +angles, towers, and buttresses, and surmounted with strong battlements +and hornworks. For greater security the castle was encompassed, save +towards the Tweed, with a moat or deep ditch, filled with water, and +fortified with strong palisades, and sharp stakes set thick all around +the walls. Over the moat, at the principal gate, was the drawbridge, +which was almost always raised, and the gate-house, a square building, +having strong towers at each corner. Over the entrance and within the +square of the gate-house was an arched vault, and over it was a chamber +with apertures, through which, on occasion of an assault, the garrison, +unseen the whilst, could watch the operations of the foe, and pour +boiling water or melted lead on the foremost assailants. On the west +side were the outworks, consisting of a platform with a trench half a +mile in length, and breastworks, and covered ways, and mounds. The roofs +of the building were bordered with parapets, guard walks, and sentry +boxes. + +But the whole space was not appropriated to works intended to ensure the +stronghold against the assault of foes. Near the mound was the chapel +dedicated to St. Giles. Under the outer wall was a military walk, five +yards wide, and forty-eight yards in length. Underneath the walls, on +the brink of the river, was a beautiful terrace, called the Maiden's +Walk, where the lady of the castle and her damsels, after their labours +at the loom, were wont to take air and exercise on a summer evening, ere +the vesper bell rang, and the bat began to hunt the moth. Within the +precincts of the building was the tiltyard, a broad space enclosed with +rails, and covered with sawdust, where young men of gentle blood, in the +capacity of pages and squires, acquired the chivalrous accomplishments +which the age prized so highly. + +In fact, the castle of Wark, like most feudal castles of that century, +was a school of chivalry, whither the sons of nobles and knights were +sent to serve their apprenticeship as warriors, taught their duty to God +and the ladies, and trained to the skill in arms which enabled them to +compel the respect of one sex and influence the hearts of the other. + +First, on foot, they were taught to attack the pel, an imaginary +adversary, which was simply the stump of a tree six feet in height; +then, on horseback, they were made to charge the quintain, a wooden +figure in the form of a Saracen, armed in mail and holding a sabre in +one hand and a shield in the other, and so constructed to move on a +pivot that, unless the youth was dexterous enough to strike the face or +breast, it revolved rapidly, and dealt him a heavy blow on the back as +he was retiring. As the lads became more expert they tilted at each +other with blunt lances, practised riding at the ring, and learned to +excel as equestrians by riding in a circle, vaulting from their steeds +in the course of their career, and mounting again while they galloped. + +At the same time they were trained to acquit themselves with credit in +those encounters celebrated as combats at the barriers. At the sieges of +cities, during the middle ages, knights of the besieging army were in +the habit of going to the barriers, or grated palisades of the fortress, +and defying the garrison to break a lance for the honour of their +ladies. Indeed, this was so fashionable, that an army could hardly +appear before a town without the siege giving rise to a variety of such +combats, which were generally conducted with fairness on both sides. +This mode of attack was early taught to the apprentice to chivalry, and +assiduously practised by all who were ambitious of knightly honour. + +Nor did the exercises of the tiltyard end at this stage. At the time of +which I write, the name of Richard Coeur de Lion was famous in Europe +and Asia; and his feats in arms were on every tongue. One of his great +exploits at the battle of Joppa was especially the admiration of the +brave. It seems that, when the Crusaders were surrounded and almost +overwhelmed by the swarming host of Saladin, Richard, who, up to that +moment, had neither given nor received a wound, suddenly sprang on his +charger, drew his sword, laid his lance in rest, and with his sword in +one hand, and his lance in the other, spurred against the Saracens, +striking sparks from their helmets and armour, and inspiring such terror +that his foes were completely routed. Naturally such an exploit made a +strong impression on the imagination of aspirants to warlike fame, and +the youth who had the dexterity and the equestrian skill to imitate it +in mimic fray was regarded with admiration and envy. + +Now our concern with Wark, and its tiltyard, is simply this--that, +within the castle, there were trained in the exercises of chivalry, and +qualified for its honours, two striplings, who, when St. Louis took the +Cross, and undertook a holy war, embarked for the East, and figured, +during a memorable expedition, as the Boy Crusaders. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE BROTHERS-IN-ARMS. + + +ON the last Wednesday of the month of July, in the year 1248, the castle +of Wark reposed in the sunshine and warmth of a bright merry summer's +day; and, the exercises in the tiltyard being over for the morning, two +of the apprentices to chivalry, whose dress indicated that they had +attained the rank of squires, strolled slowly along the green border of +the Tweed. Neither of them had passed the age of seventeen, but both +were tall and strong and handsome for their years; and both had the fair +hair, blue eyes, aquiline features, and air of authority which +distinguished the descendants of the valiant Northmen who accompanied +Rollo when he left Norway, sailed up the Seine, and seized on Neustria. +But in one rather important respect there was a remarkable difference. +One had a countenance which expressed gaiety of heart; the other had a +countenance which expressed sadness of spirit. One bore the name of Guy +Muschamp; the other the still greater name of Walter Espec. + +'And so, good Walter, we are actually soldiers of the Cross, and vowed +to combat the Saracens,' said Guy, as they walked along the grassy +margin of the river, which flowed tranquilly on, while the salmon leaped +in its silver tide, and the trouts glided like silver darts through the +clear stream, and the white and brindled cows cooled their hoofs in the +water; 'and yet I know not how it comes to pass, good Walter; but +beshrew me if, at times, I do not fancy that it is a dream of the +night.' + +'In truth, brave Guy,' replied the other, 'I comprehend not how you can +have any doubts on the subject, when you see the sacred badge on our +shoulders, and when we have, even within the hour, learned that the +ships of the great Saxon earl, in which we are to embark for the Holy +Land, are now riding at anchor before the town of Berwick.' + +'You are right, good Walter,' said Guy, quickly; 'and marry! worse than +an infidel am I to have a doubt; and yet when I think of all the marvels +we are likely to behold, I can scarce credit my good fortune. Just +imagine, Walter Espec, the picturesque scenery--the palm-trees, the +fig-trees, the gardens with flowers, and vines, and citrons, and +pomegranates; the Saracenic castles, the long caravans of camels, and +the Eastern women veiled in white, standing at fountains, and all the +wonders that palmers and pilgrims tell of! Oh! the adventure appears so +grand, that I now begin to dread lest some mischance should come to +prevent us going.' + +[Illustration: "I will go straightway with you, Walter," said Guy, "to +the palace of the Caliph; and if he refuses to render you justice, I +will challenge him to mortal combat on the spot."--p. 16.] + +'And I,' observed Walter, calmly, 'have no dread of the kind; and I am, +heart and soul, bent on the holy enterprise; albeit, I reck little of +caravans of camels, or veiled women. But my heart yearns for that far +land; for there it is that I am like to hear tidings of him I have lost. +Ah! credit me, brave Guy, that you, and such as you, little know what it +is to be alone in this world, without kith or kindred, or home, and how +saddening is the thought, ever crossing my mind, that one, near and +dear, does live; and--and--' + +He paused, bent his brow, clenched his hand, and cast his eyes on the +ground, as tears streamed down his cheek. + +'Good Walter, dear Walter,' said Guy, yielding to sympathy till he was +almost equally affected; 'droop not, but be of good cheer. Forget not +that we are brothers-in-arms, that I am your friend, your true and sworn +friend; and I will aid your search. Nay, I know what you are going to +say; but you do me wrong. I will not waste time in looking at the camels +and the veiled women, of whom palmer and pilgrim tell; but I will go +straightway with you to the palace of the caliph; and, if he refuse to +render you justice, I will challenge him to mortal combat on the spot. +So again I say, be of good cheer.' + +Walter Espec smiled mournfully. His enthusiasm was not, in reality, less +than that of his companion. But he had none of the gaiety, and little of +the buoyant spirit, which enabled Guy Muschamp to make himself, at all +times and seasons, a favourite in castle hall and lady's bower. 'I fear +me, brave Guy,' said Walter, after a brief silence, 'that the caliph is +too great a potentate to be dealt with as you would wish. But, come what +may, I am sworn to laugh at danger in the performance of a duty. My +dreams, awake and asleep, are of him who is lost; and I fantasied last +night,' added he, lowering his voice, 'that my mother stood before me, +as I last saw her when living, and implored me, in the name of St. +Katherine, the patron saint of the Especs, to fulfil my vow of rescuing +her lost son from captivity and from the enemies of Christ.' + +'Oh, fear not, doubt not, good Walter,' cried Guy, with enthusiasm; 'it +must, it shall, be done; and then we can go and conquer a principality, +like Tancred, or Bohemund of Tarentum, or Count Raymond of St. Giles, +and other old heroes.' + +'Even the crown of Jerusalem may not be beyond our grasp, if fortune +favour us,' said Walter, with a calm smile. + +'Oh, fortune ever favours the brave,' exclaimed Guy; 'and I hold that +nothing is impossible to men who are brave and ambitious; and no squire +of your years is braver or more ambitious than you, Walter, or more +expert in arms; albeit you never utter a boast as to your own feats, +while no one is more ready to praise the actions of others.' + +'Even if I had anything to boast of,' replied Walter, 'I should refrain +from so doing; and therein I should only be acting according to the +maxims of chivalry; for you know we are admonished to be dumb as to our +own deeds, and eloquent in praise of others; and, moreover, that if the +squire is vainglorious, he is not worthy to become a knight, and that he +who is silent as to the valour of others is a thief and a robber.' + +And thus conversing, the brothers-in-arms returned to the castle, and +entered the great hall, which was so spacious and so high in the roof +that a man on horseback might have turned a spear in it with all the +ease imaginable. It was, indeed, a stately apartment; the ceiling +consisting of a smooth vault of ashlar-work, the stones being curiously +joined and fitted together; and the walls and roof decorated by some of +those great painters who flourished in England under the patronage of +King Henry and his fair and accomplished queen, Eleanor of Provence. +Here was represented the battle of Hastings; there the siege of +Jerusalem by the Crusaders under Godfrey of Bouillon and Robert +Curthose; here the battle of the Standard; there the signing of the +Great Charter by King John, under the oak of Runnymede. Around the hall +might be traced the armorial bearings of the lord of the castle and the +chief families with whom the lord of the castle was allied by blood--the +three water-budgets of De Roos; the three Katherine-wheels of Espec; the +engrailed cross of De Vesci; the seven blackbirds of Merley; the lion +argent of Dunbar in its field of gules; and the ruddy lion of Scotland, +ramping in gold; while on the roof was depicted the castle itself, with +gates, and battlements, and pinnacles, and towers; and there also, very +conspicuous, was the form of a rose, and around it was inscribed in +Gothic letters the legend-- + + He who doth secrets reveal, + Beneath my roof shall never live. + +It was ten o'clock--in that age the hour of dinner--when Walter Espec +and Guy Muschamp entered the great hall of the castle, and, the +household having assembled for that important meal, a huge oaken table, +which in shape resembled the letter T, groaned under massive sirloins. +Attended by his jesters, the lord of the castle took his seat on the +dais, which was reserved for his family and his guests of high rank; +while the knights, squires, pages, and retainers ranged themselves above +and below the salt, according to their claims to precedence; and hawks +stood around on perches, and hounds lay stretched on the rushy floor, +waiting their turn to be fed. + +Much ceremony was of course observed. The sirloins were succeeded by +fish and fowl, and dishes curiously compounded; and, as was the fashion +of that feudal age, the dinner lasted three hours. But, notwithstanding +the pride and pomp exhibited, the meal was by no means dull. The jesters +and minstrels did their work. During the intervals the jesters exercised +all their wit to divert the lord and his friends; and the minstrels, in +the gallery set apart for their accommodation, discoursed flourishes of +music, borrowed from the Saracens and brought from the East, for the +gratification of the company, or roused the aspirations of the youthful +warriors by some such spirit-stirring strain as the battle-hymn of +Rollo. + +'I marvel much, good Walter,' said Guy Muschamp to his brother-in-arms, +'I marvel much where we are destined to dine this day next year.' + +'Beshrew me if I can even form a guess,' replied Walter Espec, +thoughtfully; 'methinks no seer less potent than the Knight of +Ercildoune, whom the vulgar call "True Thomas," could on such a point do +aught to satisfy your curiosity.' + +'Mayhap at Acre or Jerusalem,' suggested Guy, after a pause. + +'By Holy Katherine,' exclaimed Walter, 'ere you named Acre and +Jerusalem, my imagination had carried me to the palace of the caliph at +Bagdad.' + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE HEIRS OF THE ESPECS. + + +IN the days when the Norman kings reigned in England, the Especs were of +high account among the Anglo-Norman barons. Many were the brave and +pious men who bore the name; but the bravest and most pious of them all +was that Walter Espec, a great noble of the north, who maintained high +feudal state at the castles of Wark, Helmsley, and Kirkham, and who +figured so conspicuously as chief of the English at the battle of the +Standard, and harangued the soldiers before the battle from the chariot +from which the standard was displayed. + +But not only as a warrior was Walter Espec known to fame. As a +benefactor to religion, his name was held in honour and his memory +regarded with veneration. + +It seems that Walter Espec had, by his wife Adeline, an only son, who +was a youth of great promise, and much beloved by his parents. Nothing, +however, pleased him more than a swift horse; and he was so bold a rider +that he would not have feared to mount Bucephalus, in spite of heels and +horns. Leaping into the saddle one day, at the castle of Kirkham, and +scorning the thought of danger, he spurred his charger beyond its +strength, and, while galloping towards Frithby, had a fall at the stone +cross, and was killed on the spot. Much afflicted at his son's death, +Walter Espec sent for his brother, who was a priest and a rector. + +'My son being, alas! dead,' said he, 'I know not who should be my heir.' + +'Brother mine,' replied the priest, 'your duty is clear. Make Christ +your heir.' + +Now Walter Espec relished the advice, and proceeded to act on it +forthwith. He founded three religious houses, one at Warden, a second at +Kirkham, a third at Rievalle; and, having been a disciple of Harding, +and much attached to the Cistercian order, he planted at each place a +colony of monks, sent him from beyond the sea by the great St. Bernard; +and, having further signalised his piety by becoming a monk in the abbey +of Rievalle, he died, full of years and honours, and was buried in that +religious house; while his territorial possessions passed to the Lord de +Roos, as husband of his sister. + +Nevertheless, the family of Espec was not yet extinct. A branch still +survived and flourished in the north; and, as time passed over, a +kinsman of the great Walter won distinction in war, and, though a knight +of small estate, wedded a daughter of that Anglo-Saxon race the +Icinglas, once so great in England, but of whom now almost everything is +forgotten but the name. And this Espec, who had lived as a soldier, died +a soldier's death; falling bravely with his feet to the foe, on that day +in 1242 when the English under King Henry fought against such fearful +odds, at the-village of Saintonge. But even now the Especs were not +without representatives; for, by his Anglo-Saxon spouse Algitha, the +Anglo-Norman warrior who fell in Gascony left two sons, and of the two +one was named Walter, the other Osbert. + +While Dame Algitha Espec lived, the young Especs scarcely felt the loss +they had sustained in the death of their father. Nothing, indeed, could +have been more exemplary than the care which the Anglo-Saxon dame +bestowed on her sons. In a conversation which Walter Espec held on the +battlements of the castle of Wark, with his brother-in-arms Guy +Muschamp, the heir of an Anglo-Norman baron of Northumberland, he lauded +her excellence as a woman, and her tenderness as a mother. + +'I was in my tenth year,' said Walter, 'when my father, after having +served King Henry as a knight in Gascony, fell in battle; and, albeit my +mother, when she became a widow, was still fair and of fresh age, a +widow she resolved to remain; and she adhered firmly to her purpose. In +truth, her mouth was so accustomed to repeat the name of her dead +husband that it seemed as if his memory had possession of her whole +heart and soul; for whether in praying or giving alms, and even in the +most ordinary acts of life, she continually pronounced his name. + +'My mother brought up my brother and myself with the most tender care. +Living at our castellated house of Heckspeth, in the Wansbeck, and hard +by the abbey of Newminster, she lived in great fear of the Lord, and +with an equal love for her neighbours, especially such as were poor; and +she prudently managed us and our property. Scarcely had we learned the +first elements of letters, which she herself, being convent-bred, taught +us, when, eager to have us instructed, she confided us to a master of +grammar, who incited us to work, and taught us to recite verses and +compose them according to rule.' + +It was while the brothers Espec were studying under this master of +grammar, and indulging with spirit and energy in the sports and +recreations fashionable among the boys of the thirteenth century--such +as playing with whirligigs and paper windmills, and mimic engines of +war, and trundling hoops, and shooting with bows and arrows, and +learning to swim on bladders, that Dame Algitha followed her husband to +a better world, and they found themselves orphans and unprotected. For +both, however, Providence raised up friends in the day of need. +Remembering what he owed to his connection with the Especs, the Lord de +Roos received Walter into his castle of Wark, to be trained to arms; and +another kinsman, who was a prior in France, received Osbert into his +convent, to be reared as a monk. The orphans, who had never before been +separated, and who were fondly attached, parted after many embraces, and +many tears; and, with as little knowledge of the world into which they +were entering as fishes have of the sea in which they swim, each went +where destiny seemed to point the way. + +On reaching the castle of Wark, Walter Espec felt delighted with the +novelty of the scene, and entered with enthusiasm upon his duties as an +aspirant to the honours of chivalry. Besides learning to carve, to sing, +and to take part in that exciting sport which has been described as 'the +image of war'--such as hawking, and hunting the hare, the deer, the +boar, and the wolf--he ere long signalised himself in the tiltyard by +the facility which he displayed in acquiring skill in arms, and in +chivalrous exercises. Indeed, whether in assailing the pel, or charging +the quintain on horseback, or riding at the ring, or in the combat at +the barriers, Walter had hardly a rival among the youths of his own age; +and, after being advanced to the rank of squire, he crowned his triumphs +in the tiltyard by successfully charging on horseback, _a la_ Coeur de +Lion, with a sword in one hand and a lance in the other. + +But still Walter Espec was unhappy; and, even when his dexterity and +prowess in arms moved the envy or admiration of his youthful compeers, +his heart was sad and his smile mournful. + +And why was the brave boy so sad? + +At the time when Walter was winning such reputation at the castle of +Wark, Jerusalem was sacked by the Karismians. A cry of distress came +from the Christians in the East; and the warriors of the West were +implored to undertake a new crusade, to rescue the Holy Sepulchre and +save the kingdom founded by Godfrey and the Baldwins. The warriors of +the West, however, showed no inclination to leave their homes; and the +pope was lamenting the absence of Christian zeal, when a boy went about +France, singing in his native tongue-- + + Jesus, Lord, repair our loss, + Restore to us thy blessed cross; + +and met with much sympathy from those of his own age. Multitudes of +children crowded round him as their leader, and followed his footsteps +wherever he went. Nothing could restrain their enthusiasm; and, +assembling in crowds in the environs of Paris, they prepared to cross +Burgundy and make for Marseilles. + +'And whither are you going, children?' people asked. + +'We are going to Jerusalem, to deliver the Holy Sepulchre,' answered +they. + +'But how are you to get there?' was the next question. + +'Oh,' replied they, 'you seem not to know how it has been prophesied +that this year the drought will be very great, that the sun will +dissipate all the waters, and that the abysses of the sea will be dry; +and that an easy road will lie open to us across the bed of the +Mediterranean.' + +On reaching Marseilles, however, the young pilgrims discovered that they +had been deluded. Some of them returned to their homes; but the majority +were not so fortunate. Many lost themselves in the forests which then +covered the country, and died of hunger and fatigue; and the others +became objects of speculation to two merchants of Marseilles, who +carried on trade with the Saracens. Affecting to act from motives of +piety, the two merchants tempted the boy-pilgrims by offering to convey +them, without charge, to the Holy Land; and, the offer having been +joyfully accepted, seven vessels, with children on board, sailed from +Marseilles. But the voyage was not prosperous. At the end of two days, +when the ships were off the isle of St. Peter, near the rock of the +Recluse, a tempest arose, and the wind blew so violently that two of +them went down with all on board. The five others, however, weathered +the storm, and reached Bugia and Alexandria. And now the young Crusaders +discovered to their consternation how they had been deceived and +betrayed. Without delay they were sold by the merchants to the +slave-dealers, and by the slave-dealers to the Saracens. Forty of them +were purchased for the caliph and carried to Bagdad, where they were +forced to abjure Christianity, and brought up as slaves. + +Now, among the boys who had yielded to the prevailing excitement, and +repaired to Marseilles to embark for Syria, was Osbert Espec; and ever +since Walter received from his kinsman, the prior, intelligence of his +brother's disappearance, and heard the rumours of what had befallen the +young pilgrims on their arrival in the East, his memory had brooded over +the misfortune, and his imagination, which was constantly at work, +pictured Osbert in the caliph's prison, laden with chains, and forced to +forswear the God of his fathers; and the thought of his lost brother was +ever present to his mind. And therefore was Walter Espec's heart sad, +and therefore was his smile mournful. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ST. LOUIS. + + +AMONG the names of the European princes associated with the history of +the Holy War, that of St. Louis is one of the most renowned. Although +flourishing in a century which produced personages like Frederick, +Emperor of Germany, and our first great Edward, who far excelled him in +genius and prowess--as wise rulers in peace and mighty chiefs in +war--his saintliness, his patience in affliction, his respect for +justice and the rights of his neighbours, entitle him to a high place +among the men of the age which could boast of so many royal heroes. In +order to comprehend the crusade, of which he was leader, it is necessary +to refer briefly to the character and career of the good and pious king, +who, in the midst of disaster and danger, exhibited the courage of a +hero and the resignation of a martyr. + +It was on the day of the Festival of St. Mark, in the year 1215, that +Blanche of Castille, wife of the eighth Louis of France, gave birth, at +Poissy, to an heir to the crown, which Hugh Capet had, three centuries +earlier, taken from the feeble heir of Charlemagne. On the death of his +father, Louis, then in his twelfth year, became King of France, at a +time when it required a man with a strong hand to maintain the +privileges of the crown against the great nobles of the kingdom. +Fortunately for the young monarch Providence had blessed him with a +mother, who, whatever her faults and failings--and chroniclers have not +spared her reputation--brought to the terrible task of governing in a +feudal age a high spirit and a strong will, and applied herself +earnestly to the duty of bringing up her son in the way in which he +should walk, and educating him in such a manner as to prepare him for +executing the high functions which he was destined to fulfil. While, +with the aid of her chivalrous admirer, the Count of Champagne, and the +counsel of a cardinal-legate--with whom, by-the-bye, she was accused of +being somewhat too familiar--Blanche of Castille maintained the rights +of the French monarchy against the great vassals of France, she reared +her son with the utmost care. She entrusted his education to excellent +masters, appointed persons eminent for piety to attend to his religious +instruction, and evinced profound anxiety that he should lead a virtuous +and holy life. + +'Rather,' she once said, 'would I see my son in his grave, than learn +that he had committed a mortal sin.' + +As time passed on, Blanche of Castille had the gratification of finding +that her toil and her anxiety were not in vain. Lotus, indeed, was a +model whom other princes, in their teens, would have done well to copy. +His piety, and his eagerness to do what was right and to avoid what was +wrong, raised the wonder of his contemporaries. He passed much of his +time in devotional exercises, and, when not occupied with religious +duties, ever conducted himself as if with a consciousness that the eye +of his Maker was upon him, and that he would one day have to give a +strict account of all his actions. Every morning he went to hear prayers +chanted, and mass and the service of the day sung; every afternoon he +reclined on his couch, and listened while one of his chaplains repeated +prayers for the dead; and every evening he heard complines. + +Nevertheless, Louis did not, like such royal personages as our Henry +VI., allow his religious exercises so wholly to monopolise his time or +attention as to neglect the duties which devolved upon him as king. The +reverse was the case. After arriving at manhood he convinced the world +that he was well qualified to lead men in war, and to govern them in +peace. + +It happened that, in the year 1242, Henry King of England, who was +several years older than Louis, became ambitious of regaining the +continental territory wrested from his father, John, by Philip Augustus; +and the Count de la Marche, growing malecontent with the government of +France, formed a confederacy against the throne, and invited Henry to +conduct an army to the Continent. Everything seemed so promising, and +the confederacy so formidable, that Henry, unable to resist the +temptation of recovering Normandy and Anjou, crossed the sea, landed at +Bordeaux, and prepared for hostilities. At first, the confederates were +confident of succeeding in their objects; but, ere long, they discovered +that they had mistaken their position, and the character of the prince +whom they were defying. + +In fact, Louis soon proved that he was no 'carpet knight.' Assembling an +army, he buckled on his mail, mounted his charger; and placing himself +at the head of his forces, marched to encounter his enemies. Reaching +the banks of the Charente, he offered the confederates battle, near the +bridge of Taillebourg; but his challenge was not accepted. By this time +the confederates had lost faith in their enterprise; and while De la +Marche was meditating a reconciliation with Louis, Henry, accusing the +count of having deceived, and being about to betray, him, retreated +precipitately, and never drew rein till he reached the village of +Saintonge. + +But Louis was unwilling to allow his royal foe to escape so easily. Nor, +indeed, could Henry without reluctance fly from the peril he had +provoked. At all events, on reaching Saintonge, the English turned to +bay, and a battle began. But the odds were overwhelming; and, though the +Anglo-Norman barons fought with characteristic courage, they were +speedily worsted, and under the necessity of making for Bordeaux. + +From the day on which this battle was fought, it was no longer doubtful +that Louis was quite able to hold his own; and neither foreign kings nor +continental counts cared to disturb his government or defy his power. In +fact, the fame of the King of France became great throughout +Christendom, and inspired the hopes of the Christians of the East. + +Nor was it merely as a warrior that Louis signalised himself among his +contemporaries. At the time when he was attending, with exemplary +regularity, to his religious devotions, and keeping watch over the +security of his dominions, he was devoting himself assiduously to his +duties as sovereign and to the administration of justice. + +One day, when Louis was at the castle of Hieros, in Provence, a +Cordelier friar approached. + +'Sire,' said the friar, 'I have read of unbelieving princes in the Bible +and other good books; yet I have never read of a kingdom of believers or +unbelievers being ruined, but from want of justice being duly +administered. Now,' continued the friar, 'I perceive the king is going +to France; let him administer justice with care, that our Lord may +suffer him to enjoy his kingdom, and that it may remain in peace and +tranquillity all the days of his life, and that God may not deprive him +of it with shame and dishonour.' + +Louis listened attentively to the Cordelier, and the friar's words sank +deep into his mind. From that date he gave much attention to the +administration of justice, and took especial care to prevent the poor +being wronged by their more powerful neighbours. On summer days, after +hearing mass, he was in the habit of repairing to the gardens of his +palace, seating himself on a carpet, and listening to such as wished to +appeal to him; at other times he went to the wood of Vincennes, and +there, sitting under an oak, listened to their statements with +attention and patience. No ceremony was allowed to keep the poor man +from the king's justice-seat. + +'Whoever has a complaint to make,' Louis was wont to say, 'let him now +make it;' and when there were several who wished to be heard, he would +add, 'My friends, be silent for awhile, and your causes shall be +despatched one after another.' + +When Louis was in his nineteenth year, Blanche of Castille recognised +the expediency of uniting him to a princess worthy of sharing the French +throne, and bethought her of the family of Raymond Berenger, Count of +Provence, one of the most accomplished men in Europe, and whose +countess, Beatrice of Savoy, was even more accomplished than her +husband; Raymond and Beatrice had four daughters, all remarkable for +their wit and beauty, and all destined to be queens. Of these four +daughters, the eldest, Margaret of Provence, who was then thirteen, was +selected as the bride of Louis; and, about two years before her younger +sister, Eleanor, was conducted to England to be espoused by King Henry, +Margaret arrived in Paris, and began to figure as Queen of France. + +The two princesses of Provence who had the fortune to form such high +alliances found themselves in very different positions. Eleanor did just +as she pleased, ruled her husband, and acted as if everything in England +had been created for her gratification. Margaret's situation, though +more safe, was much less pleasant. In her husband's palace she could not +boast of being in the enjoyment even of personal liberty. In fact, +Queen Blanche was too fond of power to allow that which she had acquired +to be needlessly imperilled; and, apprehensive that the young queen +should gain too much influence with the king, she deliberately kept the +royal pair separate. Nothing, indeed, could exceed the domestic tyranny +under which they suffered. When Louis and Margaret made royal +progresses, Blanche of Castille took care that her son and +daughter-in-law were lodged in separate houses. Even in cases of +sickness the queen-mother did not relent. On one occasion, when Margaret +was ill and in the utmost danger, Louis stole to her chamber. While he +was there, Blanche entered, and he endeavoured to conceal himself. +Blanche, however, detected him, shook her head, and forcibly pushed him +out of the door. + +'Be off, sir,' said she, sternly; 'you have no right here.' + +'Madam, madam,' exclaimed Margaret, in despair, 'will you not allow me +to see my husband, either when I am living, or when I am dying?' and the +poor queen fainted away. + +It was while the young saint-king and his fair Provencal spouse were +enduring this treatment at the hands of the old queen-mother that events +occurred which fired Louis with the idea of undertaking a crusade, and +gave Margaret an excellent excuse for escaping from the society of the +despotic dowager who had embittered her life, and almost broken her +heart. + +One day, when Louis was recovering from the effects of a fever, which +had so thoroughly prostrated him, that at times his attendants believed +he was dead, he ordered a Cross to be stitched to his garments. + +'How is this,' asked Blanche of Castille, when she came to visit her son +on his sick bed. + +'Madam,' whispered the attendants, 'the king has, out of gratitude for +his recovery, taken the Cross, and vowed to combat the infidel.' + +'Alas! alas!' exclaimed Blanche, terrified, 'I am struck as fearfully as +if I had seen him dead.' + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +TAKING THE CROSS. + + +A CENTURY and a half had elapsed since Peter the Hermit roused +Christendom to rescue the Holy Sepulchre, and since Godfrey and the +Baldwins established the Christian kingdom of Jerusalem; and in the +interval, many valiant warriors--including Richard Coeur de Lion, and +Philip Augustus, and Frederick Barbarossa--had gone forth to light in +its defence; and the orders of military monks--the Knights of the +Temple, the Knights of St. John, the Knights of St. Katherine of Sinai, +and the Teutonic Knights, had risen to keep watch over the safety of the +Holy Sepulchre. But the kingdom of Jerusalem, constantly exposed to rude +shocks, far from prospering, was always in danger of ruin; and in 1244 +the Holy City, its capital, was taken and sacked by a wild race, without +a country, known as the Karismians, who, at the sultan's instance, +slaughtered the inhabitants, opened the tombs, burnt the bodies of +heroes, scattered the relics of saints and martyrs to the wind, and +perpetrated such enormities as Jerusalem, in her varying fortunes, had +never before witnessed. + +When this event occurred, the Christians of the East, more loudly than +ever, implored the warriors of Europe to come to their rescue. But, as +it happened, most of the princes of Christendom were in too much trouble +at home to attend to the affairs of Jerusalem. Baldwin Courtenay, +Emperor of Constantinople, was constantly threatened with expulsion by +the Greeks; Frederick, Emperor of Germany, was at war with the Pope; the +King of Castille was fighting with the Moors; the King of Poland was +fully occupied with the Tartars; the King of Denmark had to defend his +throne against his own brother; the King of Sweden had to defend his +throne against the Tolekungers. As for Henry King of England, he was +already involved in those disputes with the Anglo-Norman barons which +ultimately led to the Barons' War. One kingdom alone was at peace; and +it was France, then ruled by Louis IX., since celebrated as St. Louis, +that listened to the cry of distress. + +At that time Louis King of France, then not more than thirty, but +already, as we have seen, noted for piety and valour, was stretched on a +bed of sickness, and so utterly prostrate that, at times, as has been +related, he was thought to be dead. Nevertheless, he did recover; and, +snatched as if by miracle from the gates of death, he evinced his +gratitude to Heaven by ordering the Cross to be fixed to his vestments, +and vowing to undertake an expedition for the rescue of the Holy +Sepulchre. + +The resolution of the saintly monarch was not quite agreeable to his +family or his subjects, any more than to his mother, Blanche of +Castille; and many of his lords made earnest efforts to divert him from +his purpose. But remonstrance proved unavailing. Clinging steadfastly to +his resolution, Louis summoned a Parliament at Paris, induced the +assembled magnates to take the Cross, occupied three years with +preparations on a great scale, and ultimately, having repaired to St. +Denis, and received from the hands of the papal legate the famous +standard known as the oriflamme of France, embarked at Aigues Mortes, +and sailed for Cyprus, with his queen, Margaret of Provence, his +brothers, the Counts of Artois, Poictiers, and Anjou, and many of the +greatest lords of his kingdom. + +Meanwhile, the barons of England were not indifferent to what was +passing on the Continent. Many of them, indeed, were desirous to take +part in the expedition. But King Henry not only forbade them to assume +the Cross, but would not allow a crusade to be preached in his +dominions. No general movement was therefore made in England. +Nevertheless, William Longsword, Earl of Salisbury, grandson of the +second Henry and Rosamond Clifford, determined on an 'armed pilgrimage,' +and, in company with Lord Robert de Vere and others, vowed to join the +French Crusaders and combat the Saracens. Henry, enraged at his mandate +being disregarded, seized Salisbury's manors and castles; but the earl, +faithful to his vow, embarked, with De Vere as his standard-bearer, and +with two hundred English knights of noble name and dauntless courage, +sworn to bring the standard back with glory, or dye it with their +hearts' blood. + +At the same time Patrick, Earl of March, the most illustrious noble who +sprang from the Anglo-Saxon race, announced his intention of +accompanying King Louis to the East. Earl Patrick had seen more than +threescore years, and his hair was white, and his limbs stiff; but his +head was still as clear, and his heart was still as courageous, as in +the days when he had dyed his lance in Celtic blood, vanquished the +great Somerled, and carried the Bastard of Galloway in chains to +Edinburgh; and, with an earnest desire to couch against the enemies of +Christianity the lance which he had often couched against the enemies of +civilisation, he took the Cross, sold his stud on the Leader Haughs to +pay his expenses, bade a last farewell to Euphemia Stewart, his aged +countess, received the pilgrim's staff and scrip from the Abbot of +Melrose, and left his castle to embark with his knights and kinsmen. + +'I was young, and now I am old,' said Earl Patrick, with enthusiasm. 'In +my youth I fought with the foes of my race. In my old age I will fare +forth and combat the foes of my religion.' + +It was under the banner of this aged hero that Guy Muschamp and Walter +Espec were about to embark for the East; and, on the evening of the day +preceding that on which they were to set out, they were conducted to the +presence of the mother of the lord of the castle, who was the daughter +of a Scottish king, that they might receive her blessing. + +'My children,' said she, as they knelt before her, and she laid her +hands on their heads, 'do not forget, when among strangers and exposed +to temptation, the lessons of piety and chivalry which you have learned +within these walls. Fear God, and He will support you in all dangers. Be +frank and courteous, but not servile, to the rich and powerful; kind and +helpful to the poor and afflicted. Beware of meriting the reproaches of +the brave; and ever bear in mind that evil befalls him who proves false +to his promises to his God, his country, and his lady. Be brave in war; +in peace, loyal and true in thought and word; and Heaven will bless you, +and men will hold your names in honour, and you will be dreaded in +battle and loved in hall.' + +Next morning the brothers-in-arms rose betimes; and, all preparations +for their departure having been previously made, they mounted at +daybreak, and leaving the castle of Wark, and riding through the great +park that lay around it, startling the deer and the wild cattle as they +went, took their way towards Berwick, before which rode the ships +destined to convey them from their native shores. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +EMBARKING FOR THE EAST. + + +IT was Saturday; and the sun shone brightly on pool and stream, and even +lighted up the dingy corners of walled cities, as the Earl of March +proceeded on foot from the castle to the port of Berwick, and embarked +with his knights and kinsmen. + +The event created much excitement in the town. In fact, though the +princes and nobles of Europe were weary of enterprises that had ruined +so many great houses, the people still thought of the crusades with +interest, and talked of them with enthusiasm. The very name of Palestine +exercised a magical influence on the European Christians of that +generation. At the mention of the Holy Land, their imagination conjured +up the most picturesque scenery; Saracenic castles stored with gold and +jewels; cities the names of which were recorded in the sacred book which +the poorest knew by picture; and they listened earnestly as palmer or +pilgrim told of Sharon with its roses without thorns; Lebanon with its +cedars and vines; and Carmel with its solitary convent, and its summit +covered with thyme, and haunted by the eagle and the boar, till their +fancy pictured 'a land flowing with milk and honey,' by repairing to +which sinners could secure pardon without penance in this world, and +happiness without purgatory in the next. + +It is not wonderful that, when such sentiments prevailed, the +embarkation of a great noble for the Holy Land should have excited much +interest; and, as Guy Muschamp and Walter Espec took their way from the +castle to the port, crowded with ships, and passed warehouses stored +with merchandise, the Red Hall of the Flemings resounding with the noise +of artificers, the wealthy religious houses which kept alive the flame +of ancient learning, and dispensed befitting charities, the streets +presented a motley assemblage of seafaring men, monks, warriors, and +soldiers; the wives and daughters of the burghers, all in holiday +attire, crowded the housetops or gazed from the windows and balconies; +and the burghers themselves, leaving their booths and warehouses, +flocked to the port to gossip with each other, and to witness the +departure of the armed pilgrims. + +'Oh, good Walter,' exclaimed Guy Muschamp, whose spirit rose with the +excitement, 'is not this a stirring scene? By St. John of Beverley, what +rich armour! what gallant ships! what stately churches! And yet I would +wager my basinet to a prentice's flat cap that it is not, for a moment, +to be compared to Acre.' + +'I deem that it can hardly be,' replied Walter, calmly; 'and, in truth, +I am in no mood to look upon life with joyous emotions. But, brave Guy, +I am pleased to see you pleased; albeit, I own frankly that I should be +more than human did I not somewhat envy you your gaiety.' + +'Be gay, good Walter.' + +Walter shook his head. + +'Vain would be the effort,' he replied, sadly; 'I can only pray to God +and Holy Katherine to grant that I may return with a lighter heart.' + +'As for me,' continued Guy, 'I am ever gay--gay as the lark; gay in the +morning, gay at eve. It is my nature so to be. My mother is a +Frenchwoman--a kinswoman of the Lord of Joinville--and scarce knows what +sadness is. I inherit her spirit; and I doubt not that, if I am slain by +the Saracens, I shall die laughing.' + +With this conversation they reached the quay, just as Earl Patrick was +stepping on board his ship, the 'Hilda,' which, if less graceful and +elegant than the vessels of modern times, was imposing to look upon. +Adorned with painting and gilding, it had armorial bearings and badges +embroidered on various parts; banners of gay and brilliant colours +floated from the masts; and the sails of azure and purple shone with +work of gold. Armour glittered on deck; and martial music was not +wanting to give variety to the display. + +Meanwhile, amidst the bustle and shouts of the crew, the ports of the +vessel were opened to allow the horses of the armed pilgrims to enter; +and, as the ports were under water when the vessel was at sea, they were +caulked and stopped up as close as a tun of wine. This operation over, +and all the adventurers embarked, the skipper raised his hand for +silence. + +'My men, is your work done?' cried he to his people in the prow; 'are +you ready?' + +'Yes, in truth, we are ready,' answered the seamen. + +And now, the priests who accompanied Earl Patrick having embarked, the +captain made them mount to the castle of the ship, and chant psalms in +praise of God, and to pray that He might be pleased to grant a +prosperous voyage; and they, having ascended, sang the beautiful hymn of +'Veni, Creator' from beginning to end. While the priests sang, the +mariners set their sails, and the skipper ordered them to haul up the +anchor; and instantly a breeze filled the sails, and the ships moved +slowly but proudly away from the shore. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE ARMED PILGRIMS AT CYPRUS. + + +NOT with the very best grace did the King of France come to the +resolution of sailing for Cyprus. Indeed, the safety of his army +depended, in some degree, on the route selected; and the safest way to +the Holy Land was understood to be by Sicily. Unluckily, however, Sicily +was subject to the Emperor Frederick; and Frederick and his dominions +had been excommunicated by the Pope; and Louis, with his peculiar +notions, feared to set foot on a soil that was under the ban of the +Church. At Lyons, where he received the papal blessing, he endeavoured +to reconcile the Emperor and the Pope; but his Holiness declined to +listen to mediation; and the saint-king, yielding to conscientious +scruples, determined, without further hesitation, to sacrifice his plan +of passing through Sicily to Syria, and announced his intention of +proceeding by way of Cyprus to Egypt. + +At that time the King of Cyprus was Henry de Lusignan, to whose family +Richard Coeur de Lion had, in the twelfth century, given the throne, +from which he dragged the Emperor Isaac; and no sooner did Louis reach +the port of Limisso, than Henry, accompanied by nobles and clergy, +appeared to bid him welcome. Nothing, indeed, could have exceeded the +enthusiasm with which the French Crusaders were received; and when Louis +was conducted with much ceremony to Nicosia, and entered that city, the +capital of the island, the populace cheered loudly, and the clergy met +him, singing 'Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.' + +The glory of Nicosia has long since departed. Situated in the centre of +Cyprus, on the river Pedia, in a low fertile plain, near the base of a +range of mountains that intersects the island, and surrounded by walls, +in the form of a hexagon, flanked with bastions, the capital has many +fine houses; but these are mostly in ruins, and the inhabitants occupy +tenements reared of mud and brick, and rather repulsive in appearance. +At that time, however, the state of Nicosia was very different. As the +capital of the Lusignans, the city exhibited the pomp and pride of +feudal chivalry, with much of the splendour of oriental courts, and +boasted of its palaces, castles, churches, and convents, and chapelries, +and gardens, and vineyards, and pleasant places, and all the luxuries +likely to render mediaeval life enviable. + +Now, when Louis landed at Limisso, and entered Nicosia, he had no +intention of wintering in Cyprus. In fact, the saint-king was all +eagerness to push forward and combat the Saracens. But circumstances +proved stronger than his will. The Crusaders were highly captivated with +all that they saw and heard. The aspect of the island was enchanting; +the wine, which even Solomon has deigned to celebrate, was to their +taste: the dark-eyed Greek women, who perhaps knew that the island had +anciently been the favourite seat, of Venus, and who, in any case, +enjoyed the reputation of being devoted to the worship of the goddess, +were doubtless fascinating; and almost every one of the days that +succeeded Louis's arrival was devoted to rejoicings and feastings. Not +unnaturally, but most unfortunately, the Crusaders yielded to the +fascinations of an existence which at first they all enjoyed, heart and +soul; and with one accord they cried out, 'We must tarry here till +spring. Let us eat, drink, and be merry.' + +Accordingly the Crusaders did winter in Cyprus; and the consequences +were most disastrous. Enervated by luxury, they soon forgot their vows, +and rushed into every kind of extravagance and dissipation. Of course, +their recklessness soon brought its own punishment. As time passed on, +and winter set in, rain fell daily, and the intemperance, the strange +climate, and the weather soon did their work. By-and-by, a pestilential +disease made its appearance in the camp of the pilgrims, and carried off +thousands of victims, including two hundred and fifty knights. Moreover, +there was much discord and dissension. The Greek clergy and the Latin +clergy began to quarrel; the Templars and the Knights of St. John began +to fight; and the saint-king found his position the very reverse of +satisfactory or agreeable. + +By the time that the little fleet, on board of which were Guy Muschamp +and Walter Espec, reached Cyprus, matters were not what they should +have been; and the wise and prudent shook their heads, and predicted +that an expedition conducted in such a fashion was too likely to end in +disaster and ruin. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +EASTWARD. + + +IT was July, as I have intimated, when the ship 'Hilda,' which carried +Walter Espec and Guy Muschamp, left the shores of England; and, soon +after having lost sight of land, both began to experience a little of +that vague fear of 'the blue above and the blue below,' which, in the +thirteenth century, made some of the boldest feudal warriors, when they +embarked, invoke the protection of the saints in Paradise. + +'On my faith, good Walter,' remarked Guy, with less than his wonted +gaiety, for the ship was beginning to toss, and he was beginning to feel +rather sea sick, 'I cannot but think that the man is a great fool, who, +having wronged any of his neighbours, or having any mortal sin on his +conscience, puts himself in such peril as this; for, when he goes to +sleep at night, he knows not if in the morning he may not find himself +under the waves.' + +'May the saints preserve us from such a fate,' replied Walter, +thoughtfully; 'yet I own I feel so uneasy that I can hardly believe +myself a descendant of the kings of the north who made the ocean their +home, and called the tempest their servant, and never felt so joyous as +when they were treading the pine plank, and giving the reins to their +great sea horses.' + +'On my faith,' said Guy, who was every moment becoming more +uncomfortable,'I cannot but marvel much at the eccentricity of their +tastes, and could almost wish myself back to the castle of Wark.' + +'Nevertheless,' replied Walter, 'we must bear in mind that, having taken +the Cross and vowed to combat the Saracens, it beseems us not, as +Christians and gentlemen, to look backward.' + +At the time when this conversation took place, the sea was comparatively +calm, and the weather most favourable; and the skipper, naturally +overjoyed with his good fortune in both respects, predicted a speedy +voyage. In this, however, he was in some measure disappointed. Many +circumstances occurred to retard the progress of the Saxon Earl and his +companions towards Cyprus; and, what with prolonged calms, and contrary +winds, and foul weather, it was late in autumn ere they neared the +island where the King of France and his chivalry had, for their +misfortune, resolved on passing the winter. + +So far all was well, and the Boy Crusaders, now recovered from their +sickness, rejoiced in the anticipation of soon reaching Cyprus. But the +dangers of the voyage were not yet over, and one evening, about vespers, +while Walter and Guy were regaling their imaginations with the prospect +of being speedily in the company of the warriors of France, the mariners +found that they were unpleasantly close to a great mountain of Barbary. +Not relishing their position--for they had the fear of the Saracens of +Barbary before their eyes--the mariners pressed on, and during the night +made all the sail they could, and flattered themselves that they had run +at least fifty leagues. But what was their surprise when day broke, to +find that they were still off the mountain which they fancied they must +have left behind. Great, moreover, was their alarm as they thought of +the piratical natives; and, albeit they laboured hard all that day and +all that night to make sail, when the sun rose next morning--it was +Saturday--the mountain, from which they were so anxious to escape, was +still near at hand. All on board expressed their alarm on discovering +that the mariners deemed their position perilous; and the Earl, on +learning how matters stood, appeared on deck, and summoned the master of +the ship. + +'In wonder's name, skipper,' said he, sternly, 'how happens this?' + +'In truth, my lord earl,' replied the skipper, much perplexed, 'I cannot +tell how it happens; but this I know, that we all run great risk of our +lives.' + +'In what way?' + +'From the Saracens of Barbary, who are cruel and savage, and who are as +likely as not to come down in swarms and attack us.' + +The idea of captivity and chains occurred to every one who listened, and +even the Earl changed countenance. At that moment, however, one of the +chaplains stepped forward. He was a discreet churchman, and his words +were ever treated with high respect. + +'My lord earl and gentlemen,' said the chaplain; 'I never remember any +distress in our parish, either from too much abundance or from want of +rain, or from any other plague, but that God delivered us from it, and +caused everything to happen as well as could have been wished, when a +procession had been made three times with devotion on a Saturday.' + +'Wherefore,' suggested the Earl, 'you would have us do likewise, as +deeming the ceremony likely to deliver us from our peril?' + +'Even so,' continued the churchman. 'I recommend, noble Earl, that, as +this day is Saturday, we instantly commence walking in procession round +the masts of the ship.' + +'By all means,' replied the Earl, 'let us forthwith walk in procession +as you recommend. Worse than foolish would it be on our parts to neglect +such a ceremony. A simple remedy, on my faith, for such an evil.' + +Accordingly, the skipper issued orders through the ship; and all on +board were assembled on deck, and, headed by the priests, solemnly +walked in procession round the masts, singing as they walked; and, +however it came to pass, the ceremony seemed to have the effect which +the chaplain had prognosticated. From that moment everything went +smoothly. Almost immediately afterwards they lost sight of the mountain, +and cast all fear of the Saracens of Barbary to the winds; and ere long +they had the gratification of hearing the cry of 'Land,' and of seeing +before their eyes the far-famed island of Cyprus. + +It was latest autumn, however; and Cyprus did not look by any means so +bright and beautiful as the Boy Crusaders had, during the voyage, +anticipated. Indeed, clouds rested over the range of mountains that +intersects the island lengthways. The rain had fallen somewhat heavily, +and the aspect of the place was so decidedly dismal and disheartening, +that, as the two squires landed, their countenances expressed much +disappointment. + +'Now, by St. John of Beverley,' exclaimed Guy, giving expression to his +feelings, 'I marvel much that this lovely queen, Venus, of whom +minstrels have sung so much, should, when she doubtless had her free +choice as to a residence, have so highly favoured this place. + +'Tastes differ,' replied Walter, rather gloomily. 'Certainly, had I my +choice of a residence, I should fix my abode elsewhere.' + +'But what have we here?' cried Guy, as he pointed to countless casks of +wine piled high, one on the other, and to huge heaps of wheat, barley, +and other grains, which the purveyors of King Louis had some time before +prepared for his grand enterprise. 'Beshrew me, if, at a distance, I did +not imagine the casks of wine to be houses, and the heaps of corn +mountains.' + +'Anyhow,' observed Walter, 'the sight of the wine and the corn should +give us comfort; for it is clear that the King of France, however +saintly, does not forget that men have mouths, nor mean his army to die +of hunger or thirst.' + +'On my faith,' said Guy, 'I have a strong desire to catch a glance of +this miracle of saintliness. I marvel if he rides about Cyprus on a +Spanish steed, magnificently harnessed, as chronicles tell of Richard +Coeur de Lion doing, dressed in a tunic of rose-coloured satin, and a +mantle of striped and silver tissue, brocaded with half moons, and a +scarlet bonnet brocaded with gold, and wearing a Damascus blade with a +golden hilt in a silver sheath--oh, what a fine figure the English king +must have cut!' + +'However,' said Walter, 'I fancy King Louis is not quite so splendid in +his appearance as Coeur de Lion was. But we shall see him ere long.' + +'Ay,' cried Guy; 'we must have a peep at the royal saint. Meanwhile, +good Walter, one thing is certain--that we are in Cyprus.' + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +AN ADVENTURE. + + +IT was not the good fortune of all the warriors who had taken the Cross +to escape the perils of the deep, and reach Cyprus in safety. + +About a month after Guy Muschamp and Walter Espec had reached Limisso, a +tall ship bearing a Crusader of noble name, who had left Constantinople +to combat the Saracens under the banner of St. Denis, was sailing +gallantly towards Cyprus, when a violent storm arose, and threatened her +with destruction. The wind blew fiercely; the sea ran mountains high; +and, though the ship for a time struggled sturdily with the elements, +she could not resist her fate. Her cordage creaked, and her timbers +groaned dismally; and, as she was by turns borne aloft on the waves +crested with foam and precipitated headlong into the gulphs that yawned +between, great was the terror, loud the wailing, and frightful the +turmoil. In vain the mariners exerted their strength and skill. No +efforts on their part could enable the vessel to resist the fury of the +tempest. + +Every minute matters became more desperate. The sea, recently calm, +seemed to boil from its very depths; and the ship, incessantly tossed to +and fro by the roaring billows, appeared, every moment, on the point of +being engulphed. The skipper was lost in consternation; the Crusaders +gave way to despair; and with death staring them in the face they ceased +to hope for safety, and, kneeling, confessed to each other, and prayed +aloud that their sins might be forgiven. At length, in spite of the +efforts made by the mariners to resist the winds and waves, the ship, +driven on the rocks near the island, filled with water, went to pieces, +leaving those on board to struggle as they best might to escape a watery +grave. The struggle was vain. Many, indeed, caught hold of the vessel's +timbers with a vague hope of reaching the shore; but, unable to contend +with the elements, they, one after another, disappeared and sank to rise +no more. + +Now this terrible shipwreck was not without witnesses. On that part of +the coast of Cyprus where it occurred was a rude hamlet chiefly tenanted +by fishermen; and men, women, and children crowded the beach, uttering +loud cries, and highly excited, but unable to render any assistance. It +seemed that no boat could live in such a sea; and the fishermen could +only gaze mournfully on the heartrending scene, as the waves sprang up +and rapaciously claimed their prey. + +It was while the sea, agitated by the gale, was still running high; +while the waves were leaping, and tearing, and dashing against the +rocks; and while flocks of sea birds wheeled and screamed over the +troubled waters, that a knight and two squires, who, having been caught +in the storm, while riding towards Limisso, reined up, and not without +difficulty learned from the natives, whose language they scarcely +comprehended, the nature and extent of the disaster. The knight was an +English Crusader, named Bisset, who had taken service with King Louis; +the squires were Walter Espec and Guy Muschamp. All three, as they +became aware of what had happened, crossed themselves and breathed a +prayer for the souls of those who had gone to their account. + +'We may as well ride on,'said Guy Muschamp, who, like his companions, +was very much affected; 'all of them have perished, and are now beyond +the reach of human aid.' + +'Not all of them,' exclaimed Walter Espec, suddenly, as he sprang from +his horse, and, with out-stretched arm, pointed to a white object which +was carried hither and thither by the waves. + +'By the might of Henry, sir squire, you are right,' cried the English +knight, highly excited; 'it is a woman, as I live, and she is clinging +to one of the ship's timbers.' + +'And she may yet be saved,' said Walter, calmly; 'and by the Holy Cross +the attempt must be made, if we are to escape the reproach of inhumanity +and cowardice.' + +And now the men, women, and children on the beach became much excited, +and shouted loudly. No one, however, volunteered to go to the rescue. In +fact, the aspect of the sea was so menacing and terrible, that the +boldest and hardiest of the seafaring men felt that an attempt could +only end in the destruction of those making it, and shook their heads +with a significance there was no misunderstanding. + +'It seems,' said the knight, mournfully, 'that the business is +desperate; and yet----' + +'And yet,' said Walter, taking up the word as the knight hesitated and +paused, 'it shall never be told that a woman perished before my eyes, +and that I stood looking on, without making an effort to save her.' + +'He is mad,' muttered the fishermen, as they first eyed the English +squire, and then exchanged glances with each other, and shrugged their +shoulders. + +But Walter Espec did not ponder or pause. Throwing his bridle-rein to +Guy Muschamp, whose countenance expressed grave alarm, he quickly +divested himself of his mantle and the belt bearing his sword, committed +himself to the protection of Holy Katherine, the patron saint of his +house, plunged into the water, and next moment was battling manfully +with the waves. But everything was against him, even the tide; and, in +spite of his skill as a swimmer, his efforts were at first abortive. But +it was not his nature to yield easily; and, as he put forth all his +strength, and made a desperate struggle, the affair began to wear +another face. + +'Good Walter,' murmured Guy, who stood, pale as death, watching the +swimmer. 'Brave Walter!' + +'Now, may our lady, the Virgin, aid and prosper him,' exclaimed the +knight. 'Never have I witnessed a bolder attempt.' + +As the knight spoke, a loud cheer burst from the crowd; and then there +was silence. Walter drew nearer and nearer to the woman, for whose life +he was freely venturing his own. In another minute he clutched her with +one hand, turned towards the shore, and, favoured by the tide, came +sailing towards the spot which the crowd occupied. + +A dozen of the men dashed knee-deep into the water to relieve Walter of +his burden; and as they did so, a dozen of the women stretched out their +hands, and received the still unconscious form of her who had been +rescued; meanwhile the knight and Guy Muschamp caught hold of Walter, +who, fatigued and overcome with his almost superhuman exertions, would +otherwise have fallen to the ground. However they laid him down +carefully to rest; and, while Guy stood watching over him, Bisset went +to look to the safety of the damsel who had been rescued. + +'Sir squire,' said he, with enthusiasm, as he returned, 'you have done +as noble a deed as it has ever been my fate to witness, and the King of +France shall hear of it, as I am a living man; and,' continued he, in a +whisper, 'hearken! you may at the same time congratulate yourself on +having had the good luck to save a woman well worth saving.' + +'What mean you, sir knight,' asked Walter, faintly. + +'Simply this--that she is young, fair to behold, and evidently of high +lineage.' + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ON THE LADDER OF LIFE. + + +FOUR days passed over, and Walter Espec, quite recovered from the +effects of his struggle with the waves, and of the salt water he had +involuntarily imbibed during his perilous adventure on the coast of +Cyprus, was at Nicosia, and engaged in chivalrous exercises, in the +courtyard of the house occupied by the Earl of March; when he was +accosted by Bisset, the English knight, who had been a witness of his +daring exploit, and requested to repair to the presence of the King of +France. + +Walter was somewhat taken by surprise and startled by the summons. +Recovering his serenity, however, as well as he could, he intimated his +readiness; and with the air befitting a Norman gentleman who had existed +from childhood in the consciousness that his name was known to fame, and +who did not forget that he had noble blood of Icinglas in his veins, he +accompanied the knight to the palace in which the saint-king was lodged. + +At that time, Louis, not much satisfied with himself for having +consented to winter in Cyprus, though little dreaming of the terrible +misfortunes that awaited his army in the land for which he was bound, +was seated at table and endeavouring to forget his cares, while +conversing familiarly with a young and noble-looking personage of great +strength and stature, with a head of immense size, and a countenance +beaming with sagacity. In truth this was a very remarkable personage. He +was then known as John, Lord of Joinville, and seneschal of Champagne; +and he has since been famous as the chronicler of the triumphs and +disasters of the Crusade in which he acted a conspicuous part. + +'Seneschal,' said Louis, addressing Joinville, 'I marvel much that you +do not mix water with your wine.' + +'In truth, sire,' replied Joinville, half jocularly, 'I fear so to do; +for physicians have told me I have so large a head, and so cold a +stomach, that water might prove most injurious.' + +'Nevertheless,' said Louis, earnestly, 'be advised by me, and do not +allow yourself to be deceived. If you do not drink water till you are in +the decline of life, you will then increase any disorders you may have.' + +'But, sire,' asked Joinville, innocently, 'why should I drink water then +more than now?' + +'Ah,' answered Louis, 'simply because if you take pure wine in your old +age, you will be frequently intoxicated; and verily it is a beastly +thing for an honourable man to make himself drunk.' + +'I acknowledge that it is very wrong, sire,' said Joinville; 'but I am +one of those who endeavour to practise moderation in the use of the +wine-cup.' + +'And pray, seneschal,' asked Louis, after a pause, 'may I ask if you +ever wash the feet of the poor?' + +'Oh, sire, no,' answered Joinville, not without evincing surprise. 'I +hardly deem that it would become such a person as I am.' + +'In truth, seneschal,' exclaimed Louis, 'this is very ill said. You +ought not to think that unbecoming which He, who was their Lord and +Master, did for our example when He washed the feet of His apostles. I +doubt not you would very unwillingly perform what the King of England +does; for on Holy Thursday he washes the feet of lepers.' + +'Oh, sire,' cried Joinville, in a conclusive tone, 'never will I wash +the feet of such fellows.' + +'Now, seneschal,' resumed Louis, still more seriously, 'let me ask you +another question. Whether would you be a leper, or have committed a +deadly sin?' + +'Sire,' answered Joinville, frankly, 'rather than be a leper, I would +have committed thirty deadly sins.' + +'How could you make such an answer?' said Louis, reproachfully. + +'Sire,' exclaimed Joinville, with decision, 'if I were to answer again, +I should repeat the same thing.' + +'Nevertheless,' urged Louis, with earnestness, 'you deceive yourself on +the subject; for no leprosy can be so awful as deadly sin, and the soul +that is guilty of such is like the devil in hell.' + +It was when the conversation between the King of France and the Lord of +Joinville had reached this stage, that Walter Espec, guided by the +English knight, made his appearance, not without exhibiting symptoms of +agitation when he found himself face to face with the monarch, who, of +all the princes of Christendom, enjoyed, at that period, the highest +reputation in Europe and the East. + +But the appearance and aspect of Louis were not such as to daunt or +dismay. + +Nothing could have been more plain and simple than the dress worn by the +royal chief of the crusaders. Indeed it was plain and simple to +affectation; and the coat of camlet, the surcoat of tyretaine, the +mantle of black sandal, contrasted remarkably with the splendid garments +of princes who were his contemporaries, especially Henry, King of +England, who, like most of the Plantagenets, was given to magnificence +of attire, and generally regarded as by far the greatest dandy in his +dominions. Nor had Louis been endowed by nature with the qualities which +please the eye and impress the imagination. His figure, it is true, was +tall and well proportioned; but his face and features were not +calculated to dazzle. When compared with men of such noble presence and +regal air as our English Edwards and Henrys, he was decidedly plain. He +had the peculiar face and slanting features which distinguished so many +of the descendants of Hugh Capet, and that large long straight nose, +which, instead of keeping the Greek facial line, inclined forward, and +hung slightly over the short upper lip. Not even flattery could have +described the saint-king as a model of manly beauty. + +[Illustration: "Young gentleman," said King Louis, "it has come to my +knowledge that you have performed an action noble in itself, and worthy +of the praises of the valiant."--p. 64.] + +Now it happened that Walter Espec had never before seen a king, and was +prepared to behold something very grand, like Coeur de Lion, with his +scarlet bonnet, his rose-coloured tunic, and his mantle of striped +silver tissue, and his Damascus blade with a golden hilt in a silver +sheath. Naturally, therefore, he was at the first glance somewhat +disappointed with the appearance of the monarch in whose presence he +stood. But as Louis turned upon him a countenance which, albeit not +beautiful, denoted energy and decision of character, and expressed at +once goodness and good-nature, and high moral and intellectual +superiority, the youth, whose instincts were strong, felt that he was in +the presence of a man who was worthy of reigning. + +'Young gentleman,' said Louis, mildly, as Walter bent his knee, 'it has +come to my knowledge that you have performed an action noble in itself, +and worthy of the praises of the valiant.' + +'Sire,' replied Walter, colouring, and speaking with less than his +wonted confidence, 'I scarce know to what your highness is pleased to +refer.' + +'Ah,' said Louis, glancing towards the Lord of Joinville, 'I can hardly +credit your words. But such modesty is becoming in youth. However, I +mean that, four days since, as I learn, you saved a noble demoiselle +from the sea, at the most manifest peril to your own life.' + +Walter bowed in acknowledgement of the compliment, but did not speak. + +'Not,' continued Louis hastily, 'not that you should therefore be +vainglorious, or puffed up with vanity, or think more highly of +yourself than you ought to think on account of your achievement, however +honourable; for I trust you know and feel that, before our Maker, we are +all but as potter's clay.' + +'My lord,' replied Walter, pausing in some perplexity, 'I would fain +hope my ideas on the subject will ever be such as befit a Christian and +a gentleman.' + +'Well, well,' said Louis, hastily, 'on that point I meant not to express +a doubt, and,' added he, 'seeing that you give promise of being a +preuhomme, I pray God, out of His goodness, that you may prove a +preudhomme as well as a preuhomme.' + +'Sire,' said Walter, looking puzzled, 'you must pardon me when I confess +that I comprehend not clearly the distinction.' + +'Ah,' replied Louis, smiling, and shaking his head gravely, 'the +distinction is of much consequence; for know that by preuhomme I mean a +man who is valiant and bold in person, whereas by preudhomme I signify +one who is prudent, discreet, and who fears God, and has a good +conscience.' + +Walter bowed again; and, being at a loss for words to answer, took +refuge in silence. In fact, he began to feel so awkward that he wished +nothing so fervently as that the interview would come to an end; and +Louis, after condescending to ask some more questions, and inculcate +some more lessons, dismissed him with words of encouragement, and gifted +him with an amulet in the form of a ring, which bore on it this +inscription-- + + Who wears me shall perform exploits, + And with great joy return. + +As Walter left the king's presence to depart from the palace, he turned +to the knight who had been his conductor. + +'On my faith, sir knight,' said he laughing, but rather nervously, 'this +reminds me more of the adventures which in childhood I have heard +related by pilgrims and pedlars at the chimney-corner, than aught I ever +expected to meet with in the real breathing busy world.' + +'Indeed,' said Bisset, quietly; 'methinks there is nothing so very +wondrous about the business. It only seems to me that you have been born +with luck on your side--not my own case--and that you have, without +hazarding more than you are likely to do in the first battle with the +Saracens, gained the privilege of climbing some steps up the ladder that +leads to fortune and fame.' + +'And yet,' observed Walter, as he laughed and looked at the ring which +Louis had bestowed on him, 'beshrew me if I have had the courage to ask +either the rank or name of the demoiselle to whom I had the fortune to +render the service that has made my existence known to this good and +pious king.' + +'By the might of Mary,' exclaimed the knight, 'there is no reason why +you should remain in ignorance who the demoiselle is, or what is her +name. She is kinswoman of John de Brienne, who, in his day, figured as +King of Jerusalem, and kinswoman also of Baldwin de Courtenay, who now +reigns at Constantinople as Emperor of the East; and her name is Adeline +de Brienne.' + +'Holy Katherine,' muttered Walter, again looking closely at the +inscription on the ring, as if for evidence that the whole was not a +dream, 'I begin to think that I must assuredly have been born with luck +on my side, as you say; and, with such luck on my side, I need not even +despair of finding the brother I have lost.' + +'Credit me, at all events,' said Bisset, looking wise, 'when I tell you +that you have got upon the ladder of life.' + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE VOYAGE. + + +IT was the Saturday before Pentecost, in the year 1249, when the fleet +of King Louis and the armed pilgrims, consisting of no fewer than +eighteen hundred vessels, great and small, issued gallantly from the +port of Limisso, and steered towards Egypt. + +At first nothing could have been more gay and pleasant than the voyage +of the Crusaders. It seemed as if the whole sea, so far as the eye could +reach, was covered with cloth and with banners of bright colours. +Everything appeared promising. The voyage, however, was not destined to +prove prosperous. Suddenly the wind, which had been favourable, changed, +and blew violently from the coast of Egypt. Great confusion was the +consequence; and, though the Genoese mariners exerted all their skill, +the fleet was utterly dispersed. Indeed, when King Louis, having put +back, reached Limisso, he found, to his horror, that not more than +two-thirds of the armed pilgrims remained in his company. Concluding +that his companions had been drowned, the saintly monarch was grieved +beyond measure, and on the point of giving way to despair. + +It happened, however, that while Louis was mourning over the mishap, +William Longsword, Earl of Salisbury, arrived at Cyprus with the English +Crusaders, and administered some degree of consolation. In truth, +Longsword was just the man to explain all in the most satisfactory +manner. Having been accustomed from his youth to cross the narrow seas, +he felt none of that vague terror of the ocean which made the French +knights, when they embarked, invoke the protection of the saints; and he +expressed his opinion that, in all probability, the missing vessels were +safe on the Syrian coast. But the indifference which the earl showed for +dangers at which the French trembled had the effect of making him many +enemies, and arousing the natural jealousies which afterwards proved so +baneful to the expedition. + +It ought to be borne in mind, that at the period of St. Louis's crusade +there existed no love between the nobles of France and the nobles of +England; and it appears that the French were in the habit of treating +the English with some degree of scorn. Nor was it unnatural that such +should have been the case; for, during half a century, in almost every +struggle between the kingdoms, the French had been victorious. Philip +Augustus, after holding his own against Richard Coeur de Lion, had +succeeded in driving John from the continent; and Louis, when forced to +take the field against Henry, had pursued his royal brother-in-law from +the bridge of Taillebourg to the gates of Bordeaux. Remembering such +triumphs, the French, who have in all ages been vain and boastful, were +continually vaunting about their prowess, and repeating the story of +some Englishman having cut off the tail of Thomas a Becket's horse, and +of Englishmen having ever after that outrage been born with tails like +horses. + +Such being the state of affairs, the Earl of Salisbury did not inspire +the French nobles with any particular affection for him and his +countrymen who had arrived at Cyprus, when they heard him speaking +lightly of the dangers of the sea. In fact, the French lords, who a few +hours earlier had been sinking under sea-sickness, trembling at the +sound of raging billows, and wishing themselves safely in their own +castles, cursed 'Longsword,' as the worst of 'English tails.' + +But the King of France did not share the malice of his countrymen; and, +much comforted by the words of the English earl, he resolved on again +tempting the sea. Accordingly, on Monday morning, he ordered the +mariners to spread their sails to the wind. The weather proving +favourable, the fleet made gallantly for the shores of Egypt; and on the +morning of Thursday, about sunrise, the watch on deck of the vessel that +led the van, shouted 'Land!' + +'Surely, not yet,' exclaimed several voices; but the pilot to make +certain ascended to the round-top of the vessel. + +'Gentlemen,' cried the pilot, 'it is all right. We are before Damietta, +so you have nothing to do but to recommend yourselves to God.' + +'Hurrah!' shouted the mariners; and from ship to ship the tidings +passed; and, as the words of the pilot flew from deck to deck, a cry of +joy burst from thousands of lips. Great was the excitement that +prevailed; and the chiefs of the expedition hastily arrayed themselves +to go on board the king's ship and hold a council of war. + +And now all eyes were turned towards the shore; and it seemed that the +Crusaders were likely to encounter a desperate resistance in any attempt +to land. A fleet and formidable engines of war defended the mouth of the +Nile. A numerous army of horse and foot appeared on the beach, as if +bent on contesting every inch of ground. At the head of this mighty +host, wearing armour of burnished gold, figured the Emir Fakreddin, one +of the foremost of Saracen warriors. From the midst trumpets and drums +sounded a stern defiance to the armament of the Christians. But, +undaunted by the aspect of affairs, the armed pilgrims steadily pursued +their course; and ship after ship, moving calmly forward, anchored +within a mile of the shore. + +Meanwhile, the pilgrims, princes, and nobles, had reached the king's +ship; and Louis, leaning on his sword, received them with satisfaction +on his countenance. + +'Gentlemen,' said he, 'our voyage has not been without its perils, but +let us be thankful that we are at length face to face with the enemies +of Christ.' + +'Yes, sire,' said the chiefs, 'and it is therefore expedient to form +some plan of action.' + +'And, under the circumstances,' added several, 'it will be prudent to +await our comrades who have been separated from us by the tempest.' + +It soon appeared that among the chiefs there was a general wish to await +the coming of their missing comrades; but the king was young, and the +drums and horns of the Saracens had so chafed his pride that he would +not hear of delay. + +'We have not come hither,' said he, excitedly, 'to listen to the insults +of our enemies; nor have we any port in which to shelter from the wind. +A second tempest may disperse what remains of our fleet. To-day God +offers us a victory; another day He may punish us for having neglected +to conquer.' + +'Sire, be it as you will,' replied the assembled chiefs, not caring to +debate the point with their king. + +And so, with much less deliberation than was necessary under the +circumstances, and without duly considering the resources of the enemy +whom they had to combat, King Louis and the chief Crusaders resolved to +disembark on the morrow and give battle. Meantime a strict watch was +maintained, and several swift vessels were despatched towards the mouth +of the Nile to observe the motions of the Saracens. + +It happened that the Saracens, in spite of their dauntless show, were by +no means in the best mood to make an obstinate resistance, nor were they +in any sanguine mood as to the result of their preparations. At such a +crisis, the presence of the sultan was necessary to sustain their +spirits, and stimulate their fanaticism. + +Now at that time Melikul Salih was Sultan of Egypt; but he was not at +Damietta, and his absence caused much uncertainty and dismay among the +warriors assembled to defend his dominions. Melikul Salih was then at +Cairo; and almost every man in Fakreddin's army knew that Melikul Salih +was dying. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AT DAMIETTA. + + +ABOUT a mile from the sea, on the northern bank of the second mouth of +the Nile, stood the city of Damietta, with its mosques, and palaces, and +towers, and warehouses, defended on the river side by a double rampart, +and on the land side by a triple wall. Fair and enchanting to the eye +was the locality in which it was situated; and as the Crusaders directed +their gaze towards the groves of oranges and citrons, loaded with +flowers and fruit, the woods of palms and sycamores, the thickets of +jasmines and odoriferous shrubs, the vast plains, with pools and lakes +well stocked with fish, the thousand canals intersecting the land, and +crowned with papyrus and reeds, they, feeling the influence of a rich +climate and a beautiful sky, could not find words sufficiently strong to +express their admiration and delight. + +'Now, good Walter,' said Guy Muschamp, as the brothers-in-arms, having +ascended to the castle of the 'Hilda,' looked earnestly towards the +shore, 'who can deny that such a land is worth fighting to conquer?' + +'On my faith,' exclaimed Walter Espec, with enthusiasm, 'it is so +pleasant to the eye, that I could almost persuade myself I am looking +upon that terrestrial paradise in which the father and mother of mankind +lived so happily before eating the fatal apple.' + +No wonder, when such was the aspect of the country around Damietta, that +the armed pilgrims were impatient to land. + +And no time was lost; for, of all the armed pilgrims, King Louis was +perhaps the most eager to encounter the enemies of his religion; and, +soon after daybreak, on the morning of Friday, a signal was given for +the fleet to weigh anchor and draw near to the shore. + +Meanwhile the Saracens, under the Emir Fakreddin, were on the alert; and +while a bell, that had remained in the great mosque of Damietta ever +since John de Brienne seized the city in 1217, tolled loudly to warn the +inhabitants of the danger, the Moslem warriors got under arms, and with +cavalry and infantry occupied the whole of that part of the strand at +which the Crusaders had resolved to disembark. + +But the armed pilgrims were nothing daunted by the sight of the +formidable preparations made to oppose their landing. Getting into +barques which had been provided for the purpose, they prepared to fight +their way ashore, in defiance of all dangers. Ranging themselves in two +lines, with their lances in their hands, and their horses by their +sides, the knights and nobles stood erect in their boats, while in +front, and on the wings of the armament, were placed crossbowmen to +harass and keep off the foe. Nor did Louis in that hour appear in any +way unworthy to be the leader of brave men. Attended by his brothers and +his knights, the King of France, arrayed in chain-mail, with his helmet +on his brow, his shield on his neck, and his lance in his hand, figured +prominently on the right of his array. By his side stood the cardinal +legate; and in front of him was a boat in which the oriflamme, brought +from the abbey of St. Denis, was proudly displayed. + +It was an exciting occasion, and the hearts of the saint-king and his +mailed comrades beat high as the barques moved onward to the Egyptian +strand. The warriors, standing steady and silent as graven images, gazed +earnestly on their multitudinous foes. For a time no attempt was made to +oppose their progress. No sooner, however, were they within bowshot, +than a shower of arrows and javelins rattled against the mail of the +Crusaders. For a moment the ranks of the Christian warriors were shaken. +But the crossbowmen, without the delay of an instant, retaliated with +damaging effect; and while their shafts carried death into the Saracen +host, the rowers redoubled their efforts to reach the shore, and bring +Christian and Moslem hand to hand and foot to foot. + +Again the silence was unbroken, save by the plashing of oars and the +tumultuous shock of the barques pressing on in disorder. Ere long, +however, there was a loud shout. The Lord of Joinville, closely followed +by Baldwin de Rheims, had reached the shore; and they were setting +their men in battle order, and covering themselves with their shields, +and presenting the points of their lances to check the impetuosity of +the enemy. + +And now King Louis lost all patience; and deeming it no time to stand on +his regal dignity, he leaped from his barge, and plunging up to his +shoulders in the water, struggled towards the shore. Inspired by his +example, the Crusaders threw themselves into the sea in a body, and +pressed eagerly onward, with cries of 'Montjoie! St. Denis!' Again the +silence was unbroken, save by the clash of mail, the noise of a dense +crowd of armed men struggling with the waves, which were so elevated by +the rush, that they fell and broke at the feet of the Saracens. In a few +moments, however, the oriflamme was landed, and the saint-king, with the +salt water running off his armour, was on his knees giving thanks to God +for having preserved him and his companions from the perils of the deep. + +'And now, gentlemen,' said Louis, as he rose and looked excitedly around +him, 'let us forthwith charge our enemies in the name of God.' + +'Be patient, sire,' replied the knights, interfering; 'it is better to +await the landing of our comrades, that we may fight with advantage.' + +Louis allowed himself to be persuaded; and it speedily appeared that +caution was necessary; for, while the Crusaders were still struggling +ashore in disorder, the Saracen cavalry came down upon them with an +impetuosity which convinced the French that their adversaries were not +to be despised. But Joinville and Baldwin of Rheims rendered their +comrades good service. Hastily closing their ranks, they contrived not +only to stay the rush, but to present so impenetrable a front, that the +Saracens retired baffled to prepare for a fresh spring. + +And again, with an enthusiastic energy which would have struck terror +into antagonists less bold, the Saracens under Fakreddin charged down +upon the Crusaders; and then began, all along the coast, a confused +conflict which raged for hours--Christian and Moslem fighting hand to +hand; while the two fleets engaged at the mouth of the Nile; and the +Queen of France and the Countess of Anjou, and other ladies of high +rank, who remained on board at a distance, awaited the issue of the +contest with terrible anxiety, and, with priests around them, sang +psalms and prayed fervently for the aid and protection of the God of +battles. At length the conflict came to an end. Both on the water and on +the land the Crusaders were victorious. The Saracen fleet, after getting +decidedly the worst of the combat, escaped up the Nile; and the Saracen +soldiers, beaten and dispersed, retired precipitately, and flying in +confusion towards Damietta, abandoned their camp, and left several of +their emirs dead on the field. + +After witnessing the flight of the Saracens, Louis ordered his pavilion, +which was of bright scarlet, to be pitched on the ground where he had +conquered, and caused the clergy to sing the Te Deum. The Crusaders then +set up their tents around that of the king, and passed the night in +rejoicing over the victory they had won. + +Next day the Crusaders had still stronger reason to congratulate +themselves on the good fortune which had attended their arms. At +daybreak, looking towards Damietta, they observed that columns of smoke +were rising from the bosom of the city, and that the whole horizon was +on fire. Without delay the King of France sent one of his knights and a +body of cavalry to ascertain the cause; and, on reaching Damietta, the +knight found the gates open, and learned on entering that the Saracens, +after setting fire to that part called the Fonde, which was a row of +shops and warehouses, had abandoned the city. Returning to the camp at a +gallop, while his men remained to extinguish the fire, the knight +announced the glad tidings to the saint-king. + +'Sire,' said he, 'I bring good news; Damietta may be taken possession of +without striking a blow.' + +It was not very easy, even after hearing all, to credit this knight's +report; and Louis was somewhat suspicious of a stratagem. However, he +gave orders for marching towards the gates, and moving slowly, and with +much caution, took possession. It was clear that the city had been +abandoned by its defenders; and the king, the cardinal legate, and the +clergy, having formed in procession, walked to the grand mosque, which +was speedily converted into a Christian church, and sang psalms of +praise and thanksgiving. + +And now the Crusaders, with Damietta in their possession, were indeed +elate, and rather inclined to magnify their successes; and the Queen of +France and the Countess of Anjou, and the other ladies were brought +ashore and lodged in the palaces of the city; and five hundred knights +were charged with the duty of guarding the ramparts and towers; and the +warriors of the Cross, encamping in the plain outside the gates, gave +themselves up to dissipation, and deluded themselves with the idea that +no enterprise was too difficult for them to accomplish. + +'Now,' said the French, as they quaffed the red wine and rattled the +dice-box, 'we have only to await the coming of our companions from the +coast of Syria, and of the Count of Poictiers, with the _arriere ban_ of +France, to undertake the conquest of Egypt.' + +'Ay,' said others, 'and then let the Saracens and their sultan tremble.' + +'Nothing,' echoed a third party, 'can withstand the warriors of France, +when animated by the presence and example of their king.' + +'I dislike all this boasting,' remarked Bisset, the English knight, to +Walter Espec and Guy Muschamp, 'and, albeit I wish not to be thought a +prophet of evil, I predict that it will end in mischief and disaster.' + +'The saints forbid,' exclaimed Guy, gaily. 'For my part I dread nothing +but the thought of being devoured by some of the crocodiles which, men +say, are hatched in the waters of the Nile.' + +'Nevertheless, mark my words,' said Bisset, more gravely than it was his +wont to speak. 'At present the Frenchmen believe that, because they have +plied their swords with some effect, that henceforth the Saracens will +fly before their scabbards. Now they are all singing songs of triumph; +ere long, if you and I live, we'll hear them singing to a very different +tune.' + +'Ah, sir knight,' said Walter, smiling, 'you say this from national +jealousy, and because they call us "English tails."' + +'"English tails!"' repeated Bisset, scornfully; 'I tell you, for your +comfort, that when the hour of real danger arrives, we "English tails" +are likely to find our way so deep into the Saracens' ranks, that not a +bragging Frenchman will venture to come nigh the tails of our +war-steeds.' + +'By St. John of Beverley,' exclaimed Guy, laughing merrily, 'I cannot +but think that the French and English Crusaders are already inclined to +hate each other much more than either French or English hate the +Saracens.' + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +INCURSIONS. + + +AND what were the sultan and the Saracens saying and doing while the +Crusaders were establishing themselves at Damietta, and delighting their +souls with visions of the conquest of Egypt? + +In order to ascertain we must, in imagination, pass from the camp at +Damietta to the palace of Cairo. + +Melikul Salih was under the influence of a malady which his physicians +pronounced to be incurable. On that point there was no mistake. +Nevertheless, when pigeons carried to Cairo intelligence of the French +king's victory and Fakreddin's defeat, the sultan roused himself to +energy, and, after having sentenced fifty of the principal fugitives to +execution, and taken Fakreddin severely to task for allowing his men to +be vanquished, he caused himself to be removed to Mansourah. On reaching +that city, Melikul Salih expended his remaining strength in rallying his +army and strengthening the fortifications, and at the same time sent men +to attack the Crusaders in their camp, to kill the Franks and cut off +their heads,--promising a golden besant for every head brought to him. + +The Arab cavalry of the Desert, and bands of horsemen belonging to that +wild nation known as the Karismians, were employed on this service; and +the Crusaders found themselves exposed to dangers against which it +seemed impossible to guard. As wild animals prowl around the habitations +of men on the watch for prey, so around the Christian camp prowled the +Arabs and Karismians by day and by night. If even at noon a soldier +wandered from the camp he was lost; and, in hours of darkness, sentinel +after sentinel disappeared, and knight after knight was struck dead, as +if by invisible hands. Every morning the Crusaders had to listen to some +new tale of horror which made their blood run cold. + +Ere the Arabs and Karismians had carried alarm into the camp of the +Crusaders, many of the warriors of the West had begun to suffer from the +climate of Egypt; and among others who were prostrated, was the old Earl +of March. For a time he seemed likely to fall a victim to the malady; +but the natural vigour of his constitution at length prevailed; and he +had almost recovered, when a sudden inroad of the enemy exposed him to a +new peril. + +It was the afternoon of an August day; and Earl Patrick was arraying +himself to ride into Damietta to attend a council of war. His white +charger stood at the entrance of his pavilion, and there sat Walter +Espec, looking somewhat gloomy, as many of the armed pilgrims were +already doing, when Guy Muschamp approached with a countenance from +which much of the habitual gaiety had vanished. + +'What tidings?' asked Walter, eagerly. + +'On my faith, good Walter,' answered Guy, shaking his head, 'I now know +of a truth that this Damietta is not quite such a paradise as we fancied +when gazing at it from the sea.' + +'Serpents often lurk where flowers grow,' said Walter; 'but what new +tidings of mishap have clouded your brow?' + +'Nothing less,' replied Guy, 'than that these foul Saracens have been +marvellously near us. No later than last night they entered the camp, +surprised the watch of Lord Courtenay, and this morning his body was +found on the table; his head was gone.' + +'By the saints!' exclaimed Walter, 'such warfare, waged by invisible +foes, may well daunt the bravest; and albeit I trust much from the +protection of the Holy Katherine, yet I at times feel a vague dread of +being the next victim.' + +At that moment, and almost ere Walter had spoken, there arose loud and +shrill cries, and then loud shouts of alarm. + +'By good St. George!' shouted Hugh Bisset, rushing in, 'the Saracens are +upon us; they are carrying off the Lord Perron, and his brother the Lord +Duval. Arm, arm, brave squires. To the rescue! to the rescue!' + +As Bisset gave the alarm, the Earl of March came forth. He was arrayed +in chain-mail, and his helmet was on his brow. + +'What, ho!' cried the earl, with lofty indignation; 'do the sons of +darkness, who worship Mahound and Termagaunt, venture where my white +lion ramps in his field of red? Out upon them! My axe and shield.' + +Mounting his white steed, the earl caused one of the sides of his +pavilion to be raised, and issuing forth, spurred against the foe with +shouts of 'Let him who loves me follow me! Holy Cross! Holy Cross!' Nor +did the aged warrior confine his hostility to words. Encountering the +leader of the Saracens face to face, he bravely commenced the attack, +and, after a brief conflict, with his heavy axe cleft the infidel from +the crown almost to the chest. + +'Pagan dog!' exclaimed the earl, as the Saracen fell lifeless to the +ground; 'I devote thine impure soul to the powers of hell.' + +But this achievement was the last which Earl Patrick was destined to +perform. As he spurred forward to pursue his success, his steed became +refractory, and he was flung violently to the ground. Ere his friends +could come to his aid, the Saracens gave him several blows with their +clubs, and he would have been killed on the spot but for the arrival of +Bisset, with Guy Muschamp and Walter Espec, who, having mounted, now +came with a rush to the rescue. A sharp conflict then took place. Guy, +advancing as gaily as if he had been in the tiltyard at Wark, gallantly +unhorsed one Saracen with the point of his lance. Walter, going more +gravely into the combat, killed another with his falchion, at the use of +which he was expert. After much trouble the French lords were rescued; +and such of the Saracens as had not fallen, fled, and galloped along the +banks of the Nile. + +Meanwhile the squires and grooms of the Earl of March raised him from +the ground; and, supported by them, he contrived to reach his tent; but +he was much bruised, and so exhausted that he could not muster voice to +speak. When, however, surgeons and physicians were called, they +expressed themselves hopefully, and, not comprehending his dangerous +state, bled him freely in the arm, and then administering a composing +draught, left him under the charge of the squires. + +As evening was falling, the Earl of Salisbury, after a long conference +with King Louis, during which the unfortunate quarrel of the English and +French Crusaders were discussed with a view of averting fatal +consequences, left the royal quarters, in company with the Lord of +Joinville. + +'Seneschal,' said Salisbury, 'I would fain visit the Earl of March; and +I pray you to bear me company.' + +'Right willingly,' replied Joinville; 'for he is a man of great valour +and renown, and wise in council; and it were ill for our expedition if +his wounds should prove fatal.' + +'And how fares the earl?' asked Salisbury, as they reached the tent over +which ramped that ancient lion argent, so terrible on many a foughten +field. + +'My lord,' said Walter Espec, in a hushed voice, as they came to the +entrance, 'the earl sleeps; so pray tread softly, lest you should +disturb his repose.' + +They did so, and entering, found the earl lying on his mantle of +minever, which covered him. + +'He sleeps soundly,' whispered Walter, looking up. + +'Boy,' said Salisbury, solemnly, 'he sleeps the sleep that knows no +waking.' + +Walter stooped down, and perceived that Salisbury was right. The earl +was dead. + +'May paradise be open to him,' said Salisbury, crossing himself with +pious fervour. + +'Amen,' said Joinville. 'May his soul repose in holy flowers.' + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A RENEGADE. + + +IT was a sad day for Guy Muschamp and Walter Espec, when they suddenly +found themselves deprived of the protection of the aged war-chief under +whose banner they had embarked for the East. However, they were not long +without patrons. Guy attached himself to the Lord of Joinville, who was +his mother's kinsman. Walter became squire to the Earl of Salisbury, and +in that capacity joined the English Crusaders. In fact, Longsword, +having heard from Joinville of Walter's adventure at Cyprus, took a +decided liking to the young northern man, examined him as to his +lineage, his parentage, and his education, heard the sad story of his +brother's disappearance, and spoke words of such kind encouragement, +that the tears started to Walter's eyes, and his brave heart was quite +won. + +One day, soon after entering Longsword's service, Walter was standing at +the entrance of the tent occupied by the chief of the English Crusaders, +now thinking somewhat sadly of the green fields and oak forests of his +native land, now longing to behold some of the wonders of the Nile, when +a man of forty or thereabouts, handsome and well-dressed as a Frank, +presented himself, and bowed low. + +'You are of the English nation?' said he, in French. + +'Yes,' replied Walter, examining him with curiosity. + +'And you serve the great English lord, who is called Longsword?' + +'It is my pride to serve that famous warrior,' replied Walter, quietly. + +'And I would fain speak with him if you could obtain me a hearing.' + +Walter shook his head significantly. + +'Before I can make such an attempt,' said he, 'I must learn who you are, +and what you want.' + +'My name is Beltran. I am a Frank by birth, but for nine years I have +been an inhabitant of Egypt.' + +'Nine years!' exclaimed Walter. 'By the Holy Cross, you must know the +country well-nigh as intimately as the Egyptians themselves.' + +'Much knowledge I do possess of the country, and of the wonders it +contains.' + +'Well,' said Walter, 'I will put your knowledge to the test. Whence +comes this river, the Nile, of which so many stories are told? Is it +true that it takes its rise in the terrestrial paradise?' + +'In truth,' replied Beltran, 'I would I could answer your question to +your satisfaction. It is the report of the country that the Nile does +come from the terrestrial paradise. But nothing certain is known on the +subject. I have heard that the sultan has attempted to learn whence it +came, by sending experienced persons to follow the course of it.' + +'Yes,' said Walter, eagerly. + +'These persons, on their return,' continued Beltran, 'reported that they +had followed the river till they came to a large mountain of +perpendicular rocks, which it was impossible to climb, and over these +rocks fell the water. And it seemed to them that on the top of this +mountain were many trees; and they saw strange wild beasts, such as +lions, elephants, and other sorts, which came to gaze at them. And, not +daring to advance further, they returned to the sultan.' + +'And this is all that is known?' said Walter. + +'Yes,' replied Beltran. 'Where the Nile enters Egypt, it spreads in +branches over the plain. One of them flows to Damietta; a second to +Alexandria; a third to Tunis; and a fourth to Rexi. About St. Remy's Day +it expands itself into seven branches, and thence flows over the plains. +When the waters retire, the labourers appear and till the ground with +ploughs without wheels, and then sow wheat, barley, rice, and cumin, +which succeed so well that nowhere are finer crops.' + +'And whence,' asked Walter, 'comes this yearly increase of water?' + +'I cannot tell, except that it comes from God's mercy. Some say that +this overflowing is caused by heavy rains in Abyssinia; but many Arabs +believe that a drop of dew falls into the river, and causes the +inundation; and some declare they have seen it fall, like a star. The +night when it falls is called the "drop-night." But certain it is that, +were it not to happen, Egypt, from the great heat, would produce +nothing; for, being near the rising sun, it scarcely ever rains, save at +very long intervals.' + +'Of a truth,' observed Walter, 'all this sounds strange to English +ears.' + +'Where the river enters Egypt,' continued Beltran, 'there are expert +persons, who may be called the fishermen of this stream, and who, in the +evening, cast their nets into the water, and in the morning frequently +find many spices in them, such as ginger, cinnamon, rhubarb, cloves, +lignum-aloes, and other good things, which they sell by weight.' + +'But how come the spices into the water?' enquired Walter. + +'Well, it is the belief of the country that they come from the +terrestrial paradise, and that the wind blows them down from these fine +trees, as, in your forests, the wind blows down the old dry wood. But +such is mere surmise, albeit widely credited.' + +'And the water of the Nile is deemed sweet to the taste?' said Walter. + +'None in the world more sweet. The Arabs hold that, if Mahomet had once +tasted it, he would have prayed that he might live for ever, so as +unceasingly to enjoy its sweetness.' + +'And yet it seems so turbid to the eye?' + +'True; but, when the natives drink of it, it is clear as crystal. +Towards evening, crowds come down to get water, and especially women, +who, on such occasions, are decorated with all the ornaments they +possess. You must understand that they come in companies, because it is +not deemed decorous for a woman to go alone. And marvellous it is to see +how they balance the water-pots on their head, and walk gracefully up +steep banks which even you--agile as you may be--might have some +difficulty in clambering up without any burden. Then they put into their +vessels almonds or beans, which they shake well; and on the morrow the +water is wondrous clear, and more refreshing than the daintiest wine.' + +'On my faith!' said Walter, 'all this is so curious that, were it a time +of truce, I should be tempted to adventure up this river and behold some +of the strange things of which you tell. But here comes my lord.' And, +as he spoke, the Earl of Salisbury rode up, and, while Walter held the +stirrup, dismounted. + +Immediately the stranger stepped forward, and, humbling himself, with +respect offered Salisbury some lard in pots, and a variety of +sweet-smelling flowers. + +'I bring them to you, noble earl,' said the man, in French, 'because you +are cousin of Prince Richard, who is called Earl of Cornwall, and +because you are nephew of the Crusader whose memory is held in most +respect and dread by the Saracens.' + +'Of whom speak you?' asked Salisbury, a little surprised. + +'I speak of King Richard of England,' was the reply; 'for he performed +such deeds when he was in the Holy Land that the Saracens, when their +horses are frightened at a bush or a shadow, cry out, "What! dost think +King Richard is there?" In like manner, when their children cry, their +mothers say to them, "Hush, hush! or I will bring King Richard of +England to you."' + +'On my faith!' said the earl, looking more and more surprised, 'I cannot +comprehend you; for, albeit speaking French, and wearing the dress of a +Frank, you seem from your words to be an inhabitant of this country.' + +'It is true,' replied the man, slowly. 'You must know that I am a +Christian renegade.' + +'A Christian renegade!' exclaimed Salisbury, with pious horror. And then +asked, 'But who are you, and why became you a renegade?' + +'Well, it came to pass in this wise,' answered the man, frankly. 'I was +born in Poictiers, whence I followed Richard, Earl of Cornwall, to the +East, and found my way to Egypt, where I have acquired some wealth.' + +'But,' demanded the earl, indignantly, 'know you not that if you were to +die while leading your present life, you would descend straight to hell, +and be for ever damned?' + +'In truth,' replied the man, 'I know full well that there is not a +better religion than that of the Christians. But what can I do? Suppose +I returned to it and had to go back to France, I should assuredly suffer +great poverty, and be continually reproached all my days, and be called +"Renegado! renegado!"' + +'Even with that prospect you ought not to hesitate,' said the earl; 'for +surely it would be much better to suffer the scorn of the world than +await your sentence in the day of judgment, when your evil deeds will be +made manifest, and damnation will follow.' + +'Nevertheless,' protested the renegade, 'I had rather live at my ease, +as I am, like a rich man, than become an object of contempt.' + +'I cannot brook your presence,' said the earl, growing very indignant: +'therefore begone; I can have no more to say to you.' + +'Be not over-hasty,' said the renegade; 'for be it known to you, noble +Earl, that I have that to tell which it will profit you much to know.' + +'Speak, then,' said the earl, hesitating, 'but be brief; for my patience +is not so long as was my father's sword.' + +'It is of a rich caravan I would speak,' said the renegade, with a +glance and a gesture of peculiar significance. + +'Ah!' exclaimed the earl, pricking up his ears, and listening with +evident interest. + +'It is on its way to Alexandria, and will pass within six leagues of +Damietta within four days,' said the renegade. 'And whoever can capture +that caravan may gain an immense booty.' + +'And how does this concern me?' asked the earl. + +'My lord,' replied the renegade, 'I see not wherefore you should not +seize the prize as well as another.' + +'But how am I to trust your report? How am I to know that your intent is +not to betray me?' + +'My lord,' answered the renegade, 'I am in your power. I will answer for +the truth of my story with my head; and, I promise you, I am as yet +neither so old nor so weary of life as to hazard it needlessly.' + +'One question further,' said the earl, who was by this time much excited +with the prospect of a rich booty. 'How am I, being in a strange +country, to find this caravan of which you speak?' + +'I myself will be your guide,' replied the renegade. + +'And wherefore do you hazard so much to put me in possession of this +prize, when, by doing so, you expose yourself to the enmity of the +Egyptians, among whom you have cast your lot?' + +'Well, my lord,' said the renegade, after a pause, 'I will be frank. I +expect my share of the spoil; and, besides, I see very clearly that this +army of pilgrims is likely to conquer Egypt, in spite of all the +resistance sultans and emirs may make; and, at such a time, I would fain +have some powerful lord among the conquerors to befriend me.' + +'Ha!' exclaimed Longsword, smiling grimly,'I am now convinced.' + +'Of what, noble earl?' + +'Either that I must have the caravan or your head.' + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +CAPTURE OF A CARAVAN. + + +WHILE King Louis lay at Damietta, awaiting the arrival of Crusaders from +France and Syria, ere venturing to march into Egypt, the utmost disorder +began to prevail in the camp. The armed pilgrims, left to inactivity in +a delightful climate, under a bright sky, and surrounded by beautiful +scenery, appeared once more to forget the oaths they had taken, and +indulged in still worse riot and debauchery than when they wintered in +Cyprus. Gambling was their daily occupation; and the rattle of the +dice-box was constantly heard through the camp. And men with the Cross +of Christ upon their shoulders had the name of the devil continually on +their tongues. Nor was this the worst. Vice reigned all around in its +grossest form; and the saint-king complained mournfully to the Lord of +Joinville, that, within a stone's-throw of his own pavilion, houses of +infamous repute were kept by his personal attendants. + +At the same time, the jealousy between the French and English grew more +and more intense, and threatened disastrous consequences. In vain did +Louis exert his influence to restrain the insolence of his countrymen. +The English were constantly reminded of their inferiority as a nation, +and exposed to such insults as it was difficult to brook. Bitter taunts +and insinuations of cowardice were unhesitatingly used to mortify the +island warriors; and men who had disobeyed their king's mandate, and +forfeited lands and living to combat the Saracens, were, day by day, +driven nearer the conclusion that they would ere long be under the +necessity of drawing their swords against their fellow-soldiers of the +Cross. + +Of all the French Crusaders, however, none were so foolishly insolent as +Robert, Count of Artois, brother of King Louis. From a boy the French +prince had been remarkable for the ferocity of his temper, and had early +signalised himself by throwing a cheese at the face of his mother's +chivalrous admirer, Thibault of Champagne. For some reason or other, the +Count of Artois conceived a strong aversion to the Earl of Salisbury, +and treated Longsword with the utmost insolence. And, though the Earl +only retaliated by glances of cold contempt, it was known that his +patience was wearing away, and it was feared that there would yet be +bloodshed. + +'By my father's sword!' said he, speaking partly to himself, partly to +Walter Espec, one day after returning to his tent, 'I fear me that my +spirit will not much longer brook the reproaches of that vain prince. +Even this day, as he spoke, my hand stole to the hilt of my sword; and I +panted to defy him to mortal combat on the spot.' + +'My lord,' replied Walter, gravely and cautiously, 'I perceived that, +albeit striving to be calm, you felt your ancestral blood boiling in +your veins. And, in truth, I marvel not that such should have been the +case; and yet---- + +'And yet----Well, speak freely. I listen.' + +'Well, my lord,' continued Walter, 'I was about to say that it seemed to +me the part of a wise man, and one so renowned in arms, not to deign to +answer a fool according to his folly.' + +'Doubtless you are right,' replied the earl. 'And sinful, I feel, and +calculated to provoke God's vengeance, would it be to draw the sword +against one marked with the Cross, and engaged, like ourselves, in this +holy war. Nevertheless, my patience may come to an end, as the patience +of better men has done in such cases. However, a truce to such talk for +the present; and see that, at daybreak, this renegade is ready to guide +us on our expedition after the caravan; for I am weary of inactivity, +and eager for change of scene.' + +Accordingly, preparations for the expedition were made; and, next +morning, Salisbury and his knights dashed away from Damietta to +intercept the caravan that was reported to be on its way to Alexandria. +For a time they waited patiently at a place where it was expected to +pass. But this mode of spending time was not much to the taste of men +whose spirits were raised by the novelty of everything around. Panting +for action, Longsword left Walter Espec with a band of horse and Beltran +the renegade to keep watch, and, at the head of his knights, went off in +quest of adventure. + +[Illustration: "I cannot but think," said Walter, "our post is one of +danger, if the guards of this caravan are so numerous as reported. +Nevertheless, it shall never be told that, for fear of odds, I retreated +from a post which I had been entrusted to maintain."--p. 99.] + +Hours passed; evening fell and deepened into night; and still neither +the caravan nor the warriors who had determined to capture it made +their appearance; and Walter and the renegade, for different reasons, +began to entertain considerable alarm. As morning approached, however, +one point was explained. In fact, a spy employed by Beltran reached the +rendezvous, with intelligence that the Earl's intention to attack the +caravan having been suspected, had caused the delay; but that, being +aware that he was out of the way, its guards were preparing to hasten +forward at dawn of day, confidently hoping to pass without being +assailed, or to beat down any opposition that might be offered to its +progress. + +'On my faith,' said Walter, as he learned how matters were, 'I cannot +but think our post is one of danger, if the guards of this caravan are +so numerous as reported. Nevertheless, it shall never be told that, for +fear of odds, I retreated from a post which I had been entrusted to +maintain.' And he proceeded to place his men in such a position that +they might elude the observation of the Saracens till close at hand, and +then rush out and take the guards of the caravan by surprise. + +Meanwhile, day was breaking; and, in the distance, Walter and his +companions could descry the caravan, apparently guarded by a strong +force: and gradually the white turbans and green caftans and long spears +became more and more distinct. It was clear that, in the event of +Salisbury not returning in time, Walter would have to fight against +great odds; and the return of the earl in time to aid him now appeared +so improbable that the squire ceased even to hope for his banners, and +resolved to take what fortune might be sent him. Suddenly, however, a +sound--a whisper on the breeze, and the heavy tread of horses--reached +his ears; and, gazing round, he descried a body of horsemen approaching +in the opposite direction from which the caravan came. + +'Now, may the saints be praised, and may we be for ever grateful! +exclaimed Walter, with a joyful heart, as he closely examined the banner +that approached; 'for here come my Lord of Salisbury and his men of +might.' + +In a few minutes the Earl reached the spot, and, rapidly comprehending +the situation of affairs, prepared for action. But there was hardly +occasion to strike a blow. No sooner did the English move towards the +caravan, and no sooner had the Saracens an opportunity of judging what +manner of men their assailants were, than they halted in surprise, and +gave way to terror; and when the Earl, on his bay charger, spurred +forward, shouting his battle-cry, they only waited long enough to +discharge a shower of arrows, and then fled like hares before the +hounds. Routed in every direction, they left the caravan to its fate; +and the English, pausing from the fray, found themselves in possession +of oxen, buffaloes, camels, mules, and asses, laden with gold and +silver, and silks and paintings. + +'And now for Damietta!' said Longsword; 'for this is in truth a rich +prize; and let us not risk the loss of it by loitering on the way.' + +And without waste of time--for a rescue was not impossible--they secured +their booty, and marched with what speed they could towards Damietta. + +'Sir squire,' said Lord Robert de Vere, riding up to Walter Espec, whose +conduct Longsword had commended, 'your position in the earl's absence +was not quite so pleasant as a bed of roses.' + +'In truth, my lord,' replied Walter, thoughtfully, 'now that the danger +is over, I cannot but deem that you came just in time to save us from +death or captivity.' + +'And you marvelled that we tarried so long?' + +'Much,' replied Walter; 'and had given up all hope of your return. +However,' added he, 'I perceive that your time was by no means wasted.' + +'You speak truly,' said De Vere. 'Never were men more successful in an +adventure. By accident, we found ourselves hard by the castle of some +wealthy Saracen, and determined to seize it; so, overcoming all +resistance, we took it by storm, and found therein much booty, and a +bevy of Saracen ladies; and, having given them to understand that they +were captives of our swords and lances, we are carrying them to +Damietta.' + +'On my faith!' said Walter, laughing, 'Fortune seems to bestow her +favours liberally on the pilgrims from England. No saying what great +exploits my Lord of Salisbury and his knights may yet perform! One day +we seize a castle and a caravan; another day it may be a kingdom.' + +'And yet,' observed De Vere, the tone of his voice suddenly changing as +he spoke, 'I am seldom in solitude without experiencing a vague feeling +that calamity is impending.' + +Now this adventure, successful as it appeared, involved the English +Crusaders in serious troubles. When Salisbury, on his bay charger, rode +into Damietta, with the captive Saracen ladies and the captured caravan, +the French were moved with envy, and did not fail to express their +sentiments in strong language. Perhaps the English did not bear their +good fortune so meekly as they might have done. In any case, the French +grew more and more exasperated; and at length the quarrel reached such a +stage that the French, availing themselves of superior numbers, had +recourse to violence, and forcibly carried off part of the booty which, +at great peril and with some labour, Longsword and his men had won. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A COUNCIL OF WAR. + + +ON the morning after the return of the Earl of Salisbury to Damietta, +and the violent proceedings of the French Crusaders against the English +companions of their expedition, King Louis summoned a council of war to +deliberate on the measures most likely to lead to the conquest of +Egypt--the grand object of the saintly monarch's ambition. + +By this time arrivals from various quarters had swelled the army that, +under the banner of St. Denis, lay encamped at Damietta. Thither, under +the grand masters of their orders, had come the Templars and the +Hospitallers, whose discipline and knowledge of the East rendered them +such potent allies. Thither had come the Duke of Burgundy, who had +passed the winter in the Morea; and the Prince of Achaia, who forgot the +perils surrounding the Latin empire of Constantinople, in his eagerness +to combat the Moslem on the banks of the Nile; thither, recovered from +their fright, had come the Crusaders whose vessels the storm had driven +on the Syrian coast; and thither, with the _arriere ban_ of France, +Alphonse, Count of Poictiers--'one of that princely quaternion of +brothers which came hither at this voyage, and exceeded each other in +some quality--Louis the holiest, Alphonse the subtlest, Charles the +stoutest, and Robert the proudest.' No fewer than sixty thousand +men--twenty thousand of whom were cavalry---were now encamped around the +oriflamme; and with such an army, led by such chiefs, the saint-king +would have been more than mortal if he had not flattered himself with +the hope of accomplishing something great, to be recorded by chroniclers +and celebrated by minstrels. + +And the princes and nobles assembled to hold a council of war; and +Louis, with his crown on his brow, took his place to preside, with that +serene dignity which distinguished him. But, ere the proceedings began, +the Earl of Salisbury rose, and intimated his desire to address the king +on a subject of great importance. Louis immediately signified consent; +and the earl, raising his hand to ensure silence, proceeded with a calm +but resolute air:-- + +'Sire,' said he, 'I crave your pardon, and that of the princes and noble +warriors here assembled, for trespassing upon their time. But I have +that to state which demands your attention and interference, inasmuch as +it nearly concerns the safety and welfare and honour of the army of +pilgrims, of which you are the recognised chief. Sire,' continued the +earl, 'however others may plead ignorance of the circumstances, you, at +least, are fully informed and well aware that, in taking the Cross, and +coming from a distant land to aid you in the recovery of the Holy +Sepulchre, I made sacrifices of no ordinary kind. My doing so exposed +me to the wrath of King Henry, my kinsman and liege lord, who took from +me my earldom and all my substance. This, however, he did judicially, +not in his anger, or any violence of self-will; and I do not blame him. +But I came hither with my countrymen, and we have fought as faithfully +for God's cause as any man in your army. Nevertheless we have been +exposed to insults and injuries which brave men cannot long tolerate. +The chief offender is your brother, the Count of Artois. I lay my +complaint before you, and I ask you to judge between us. I promise to +abide by your decision, and, if I am found to be in the wrong, to render +every satisfaction for my fault. So help me God, and good St. George!' + +Louis listened with attention to the earl's speech. Indeed, the grandeur +of Longsword's aspect, and his eloquence, so frank and so manly, +produced a strong impression both on the king and the assemblage, and +many of the French, notwithstanding their prejudices, murmured +approbation. + +'This English earl,' said they, 'speaks words of truth and soberness, +and he asks nothing more than the justice that ought not to be denied to +the meanest man in the army of pilgrims.' + +Louis, however, paused, and appeared to be in extreme perplexity. + +'William Longsword,' he said, at length, 'you have spoken boldly; and I +do not deny that you have spoken the truth. The Lord, who is ignorant of +nothing, is aware of the injuries you have suffered. But what can I do? +You know how serious an affair it would be for me to offend any of my +nobles in the position in which I now am, and it therefore becomes you +to exercise the patience becoming a soldier of the Cross.' + +And now the Count of Artois started up, his face flushed and his limbs +trembling with rage: + +'King,' exclaimed he, in accents of menace, 'what mean you by the words +you have spoken? Do you defend this Englishman and take part with him +against Frenchmen, who are of your own country and kindred?' + +The countenance of Louis expressed more annoyance than he was in the +habit of exhibiting. + +'Now, Longsword,' said he, turning with an imploring look to the earl, +'you see the position of affairs, and how easily a quarrel might arise; +and God forbid it should occur in an army of Christians. At such a +crisis it is necessary to endure much for the sake of Christendom.' + +'Sire,' exclaimed Longsword, giving way to his indignation, 'if this is +the only answer you can give to my complaint, I advise you to call +yourself no longer a king; since you have no longer the privilege of +being obeyed, or of administering justice, or punishing offenders.' And +rising with a dignity which awed most of those present, he left the +council. + +'Frenchmen,' said Louis, reproachfully, 'why do you persecute this man? +What madness excites you?' + +'I do it,' cried the Count of Artois, 'because I dislike the tailed +English, and because I think the army of Crusaders would be well purged +of them.' + +But none present ventured to give the count the support he seemed to +expect; and the wise and prudent bent their brows, and intimated their +disapprobation. + +'The matter is too serious to be lightly spoken of,' said they, +significantly; 'and this dispute is a sad presage of future events; and +well will it be if the anger of the Most High is not provoked by such +offences.' + +'And now,' said Louis, anxious to drop the subject, 'let us to the +business on which we assembled to deliberate. Let us consult on the line +of march, and on the measures to be taken for completing the conquest of +Egypt.' + +'Sire,' said John de Valery, a baron, whose probity and courage were the +admiration of the army, 'it seems to me that the best and safest policy +is to undertake the siege of Alexandria. That city has a commodious +port, where the fleet could find shelter, and where munitions and +provisions could be procured with facility. My voice, therefore, is for +marching to Alexandria.' + +Many of those whose experience in war was greatest--among whom were the +Master of the Temple and the Master of the Hospital---echoed John de +Valery's opinion. + +'For my part,' said the Count of Artois, with his characteristic +rashness, 'I dislike timid counsels. Why not at once attack Cairo, which +is the capital of Egypt? When you wish to kill the serpent,' added he, +'you ought always to endeavour to crush his head. Then, I say, let us on +to Cairo.' + +A warm and somewhat angry discussion ensued; and Louis, having given his +opinion in favour of marching to Cairo, the project was adopted: and it +was resolved to leave Queen Margaret, with the Countesses of Artois, +Poictiers, and Anjou, at Damietta, to send the fleet with provisions and +engines of war up the Nile, and then to march with banners displayed +along the banks of the river. + +'Gentlemen,' said Louis, as he dismissed the council, 'I feel assured +that we shall have no reason to repent adopting the bolder of the +projects discussed this day; for, with an army of sixty thousand men, +and the blessing of God on our endeavours, I see no reason to despair of +accomplishing something great against the enemies of Christ.' + +'Sire,' replied John de Valery, 'may God grant that your hopes be +realised.' + +And the nobles and princes separated to make the necessary preparations +for marching to Cairo. + +Little did they foresee the terrible circumstances under which many of +them were to reach that city. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +FACE TO FACE. + + +WHILE the Crusaders were preparing to leave Damietta, march up the Nile, +and attack Cairo, Melikul Salih, after struggling desperately with the +great destroyer, yielded to his fate, and breathed his last at +Mansourah. The death of the sultan was regarded by the emirs as most +untimely; for his son, Touran Chah, was then in Mesopotamia, and they +were apprehensive of the most serious troubles. At this crisis, however, +a woman, whose great ability enabled her to comprehend the emergency and +to deal with it, suggested measures for averting the ruin with which the +empire of Egypt was menaced. + +Her name was Chegger Eddour, and she is said to have been an Armenian. +She had originally been brought to Cairo as merchandise, and purchased +by Melikul Salih as a slave. But her wit and beauty won the sultan's +heart, and he became so enamoured that he elevated her to the position +of favourite sultana, and carried her about with him wherever he went. +One son whom she had by the sultan died young. Nevertheless her +influence daily increased; and the Arabian historians, while eloquent +in praise of her courage, agree in saying, that 'no woman surpassed her +in beauty, and no man excelled her in genius.' + +No sooner did Melikul Salih depart this life, than Chegger Eddour +assembled the principal emirs at Mansourah, and made them acknowledge +Touran Chah as sultan. Moreover, she impressed upon them the necessity +of concealing the death of her husband till the arrival of his +successor. The policy she recommended was adopted. Orders were still +issued in Melikul Salih's name; the Mamelukes still guarded the gates of +the palace as if he had been living; and prayers for his recovery were +still offered up in the mosques, where the Moslems worshipped. All these +precautions, which were the work of the sultana, were skilfully taken, +and for a time the Saracens hoped that Melikul Salih might yet recover +from his malady, and save them from the foe by whom they were +threatened. + +Ere long, however, suspicion was aroused, and it became more and more +difficult to conceal the truth. Of itself this was sufficient to create +consternation; but, at the same time, rumour brought to Mansourah +intelligence that the French, having left Damietta, and marched in +hostile array along the banks of the Nile, had reached Pharescour; and +the approach of the Crusaders converted the consternation into panic, +which rapidly extended its influence to Cairo. Every cheek grew pale; +and the Egyptians exhibited such anxiety and terror as had never before +been felt in their cities. + +At this crisis, Fakreddin, to whom the sultana had entrusted the command +of the Egyptian army, took measures to reanimate his countrymen with +courage and confidence, and called upon them to hazard their lives +freely for their religion. + +'In the name of God, and Mahomet his prophet,' said the emir, 'hasten, +great and small--the cause of God has need of your arms and of your +wealth; the Franks--Heaven curse them!--are arrived in our country, with +their standards and their swords. They wish to obtain possession of our +cities, and to ravage our provinces. What Mussulman can refuse to march +against them, and avenge the glory of Islamism?' + +But, at Cairo and Mansourah, the Egyptians only answered with sighs and +groans; and, at first, Fakreddin's appeal failed to produce the effect +he intended. The emir, however, was not dismayed. Indeed, he showed a +courage worthy of the fame he had won by his military exploits, and +gradually rallied the more courageous of his countrymen around him. +Marching from Mansourah, he encamped at Djedile, on the side of the +canal known as the Achmoun, which has a deep bed and steep banks; and +halted with the Nile on his left and the city in his rear. + +'Here,' said he, addressing his men, 'I await the invaders. Be brave; we +will yet avenge Islamism; and on Sebastian's-day I will dine in the +scarlet tent of the French king.' + +Meanwhile, the Crusaders continued their march, and they soon approached +Mansourah. At this point, however, their progress was arrested by two +obstacles--the canal of Achmoun, and the army of Fakreddin. + +'Who is the leader of that army?' asked King Louis, as he looked +earnestly across the canal to where the Saracens were encamped. + +'Sire,' answered one of his knights, 'it is Fakreddin, the emir, who +fled from Damietta; but who, nevertheless, as I learn, does not hesitate +to boast that it is his intention to dine in your red tent on St. +Sebastian's-day.' + +'Does the emir intend to dine in my tent on St. Sebastian's-day?' said +Louis, mildly; 'however, I will take good care to prevent him.' + +'In truth, sire,' said the knight, smiling, 'I hold that you are much +more likely to dine in the sultan's palace.' + +'Be that as it may,' replied the king, 'one thing is certain. We and our +foes are now face to face.' + +And so they were. Face to face, separated only by the canal Achmoun, +Christian and Moslem, headed by the King of France and the Emir +Fakreddin, lay encamped and awaiting a favourable opportunity to fight, +and to conquer or die for their countries and religions. + +And it speedily appeared that face to face they were for some time +likely to remain. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +DELAY AND DANGER. + + +IT was January 1250, and King Louis, at the head of the Crusaders, was +still on the banks of the Achmoun. But it was not from reluctance to +prosecute their enterprise that the armed pilgrims submitted to delay. +The aspect of the country through which they had passed on their way +from Damietta had not been such as to diminish their ambition to be +conquerors. It cannot be doubted that the fertility of the land of the +Pharaohs must have made them more and more eager to become its masters. + +In truth, there cannot be a more delightful sight than Egypt at either +of two seasons of the year. Ascend some mountain in the month of July or +August, when the Nile has risen, and you behold a vast sea, in which +appear numerous towns and villages, with causeways leading from place to +place, the whole interspersed with groves and fruit-trees, of which the +tops are only visible, and bounded by woods and mountains. But it is the +peculiarity of the Nile, unlike other rivers, which, in overflowing +lands, wash away and exhaust their vivific moisture, that its waters +serve to fatten and enrich the soil. Accordingly, ascend the same +mountain in January or February, when the waters have subsided and the +husbandman has done his work, and the country is like one beautiful +meadow, dotted with flocks and herds, covered with crops of corn, +enamelled with flowers, and perfumed with the blossoms of oranges and +lemons. + +Nor, considering the marvellous history of Egypt, could the imaginations +of the Crusaders be otherwise than fascinated by the prospect of looking +with their own eyes on its cities, its pyramids, its obelisks, its mummy +pits, and all the relics of its ancient and mysterious civilisation. +Persians, Macedonians, Romans, and Saracens, had come hither before them +as conquerors. But it may be doubted whether the warriors of Cambyses, +or Alexander, or the Caesars, or Omar, felt a more thorough confidence in +their own prowess and destiny, than did the warriors who marched from +Damietta under the banner of St. Denis. + +It was certainly mortifying to men in so elate a mood to have their +progress arrested by a canal; and, in fact, the French warriors seem to +have been startled out of their senses by its steep banks and deep bed. +At all events, they, instead of looking for a ford, which was certainly +the most natural way of getting over their difficulty, commenced the +construction of a causeway. + +Now, Fakreddin no sooner observed that the Crusaders were at work, than +he perceived his advantage, and vowed that the causeway should never be +completed; and, while workmen, protected by machines of war and wooden +castles, were occupied with its construction, the Saracens spared no +pains to retard the operations. As fast as the Crusaders heaped up the +sand and stones, the Saracens dug away the earth in front, thus removing +the opposite bank to a greater distance; and, moreover, they incessantly +showered arrows and javelins at the workmen. Every day brought fresh +annoyances; and every day the Saracens became more audacious in their +attacks. Every night brought fresh surprises; and, in the conflicts +which took place, the Crusaders had not always the best of the struggle. + +'A large body of Turks,' says Joinville, 'made an attack on the Count of +Poictiers and me. But be assured they were very well received. It was +well for them that they found their way back as they came; but they left +behind them great numbers of slain.' + +'One night the Turks brought an engine, called by them _la perriere_, a +terrible engine to do mischief, and placed it opposite the +chas-chateils, which Sir Walter Curel and I were guarding. From this +engine they flung such quantities of Greek fire, that it was the most +horrible sight I ever witnessed. When my companion, the good Sir Walter, +saw this shower of fire, he cried out, "Gentlemen, we are all lost +without remedy; for should they set fire to our chas-chateils we must be +burnt, and if we quit our post we are for ever dishonoured; from which, +therefore, I conclude that no one can possibly save us from this peril +but God, our benignant creator. I therefore advise all of you, whenever +they throw any of this Greek fire, to cast yourselves on your hands and +knees and cry for mercy to our Lord, in whom alone resides all power." + +'As soon, therefore, as the Turks threw their fires, we flung ourselves +on our hands and knees as the wise man had advised; and, this time, they +fell between our two cats, into a hole in front, which our people had +made to extinguish them; and they were instantly put out by a man +appointed for that purpose. + +'Each time that our good king, St. Louis, heard them make these +discharges of fire, he cast himself on the ground, and with extended +arms, and eyes turned to the heavens, cried with a loud voice to our +Lord, and shedding heavy tears, said--"Good Lord God, preserve thou me, +and all thy people:" and, believe me, his sincere prayers were of great +service to us. Every time the fire fell near us he sent one of his +knights to know how we were, and if the fire had hurt us. One of the +discharges from the Turks fell beside a chas-chateil, guarded by the men +of the Lord of Courtenay, struck the bank of the river in front and ran +on the ground toward them, burning with flames. One of the knights of +his guard instantly came to me, crying out, "Help us, my lord, or we are +burnt; for there is a long train of Greek fire, which the Saracens have +discharged, that is running straight for our castle." + +'We immediately hastened thither, and good need was there, for as the +knight had said, so it was. We extinguished the fire with much labour +and difficulty; for the Saracens, in the meantime, kept up so brisk a +shooting from the opposite bank, that we were covered with arrows and +bolts.' + +All this time Fakreddin was diligent in procuring what intelligence he +could as to the position and plans of the Crusaders. This, however, was +not an easy business. Indeed, no intelligence on such subjects could be +obtained, save from captives, and the emir, therefore, offered a high +reward for every Frank brought to his tent. But the Crusaders, taught by +experience, had become marvellously vigilant, and showed a decided +aversion to be captured. A Saracen, however, who was an expert swimmer, +vowed not to be baffled, and performed an exploit, which Arabian +chroniclers, while omitting much more important events, have carefully +recorded. + +It seems that this Saracen, having determined to carry a Christian as +captive to Fakreddin's tent, and claim the reward, fell upon a somewhat +whimsical plan for accomplishing his object. Having scooped out a melon, +and thrust his head into the cavity, he threw himself into the canal, +and swam down the stream in such a way that the melon appeared to float +in the water. The trick succeeded in attracting the attention of the +Crusaders, and as the melon was passing that part of the bank where the +Lord of Joinville was encamped, there was much excitement among his men. + +'Let us catch the melon,' cried one. + +'Who is bold enough to make the attempt?' asked another. + +'On my faith,' said a squire, laughing, 'I see no danger to daunt the +most timid.' + +[Illustration: Scarcely, indeed, had he stretched forward his hand, when +he found himself seized by the Saracen, and dragged forcibly away in the +direction of the camp on the opposite bank.--p. 118.] + +As he spoke, the squire, doffing his upper garments, rushed into the +water, and, striking out, grasped at the melon. But the adventure did +not end so pleasantly as he had anticipated. Scarcely, indeed, had he +stretched forward his hand, when he found himself seized by the Saracen, +and dragged forcibly away in the direction of the camp on the opposite +bank. + +At first the Crusaders could hardly believe their eyes. But there was no +mistake about it. Their comrade was gone, and a prisoner in the hands of +the Saracens; and, as they considered what might be his fate, they +raised such shouts of alarm, that their lord was attracted to the spot. + +'In St. Denis' name,' said Joinville, after hearing sufficient to be +aware of what had occurred, 'tell me, I pray you, who among my fellows +has met with this mishap?' + +'In truth, my lord,' replied one of the knights, 'it is the English +squire who took service with you at Damietta.' + +'May the God of his fathers protect him!' exclaimed Joinville, somewhat +sadly; 'as matters are, we can do nothing in his behalf.' + +And who was the squire, who had entered the service of Joinville at +Damietta, and afterwards been taken prisoner by the Saracens? + +It was one of the brothers-in-arms. It was Guy Muschamp. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE CAPTIVE. + + +AT the time when Guy Muschamp was dragged away as a captive to the camp +of the Saracens at Djedile, the emir Fakreddin sat in his pavilion. It +was a marvellous tent, in the centre of the camp, and formed so as to +resemble a fortified city, being divided into streets, flanked with +towers, and furnished with everything likely to contribute to the luxury +of an oriental. In an apartment, ornamented with gold and gems, the emir +sat, face to face with a dark-browed Saracen chief, and playing at +chess. But the game did not by any means monopolise the attention of the +persons engaged in it; for the companion of the emir was no less +celebrated a person than Bibars Bendocdar, the chief of the Mamelukes; +and between him and Fakreddin there was much discussion as to the best +mode of dealing with the enemies who menaced the empire with ruin. + +And who was Bibars Bendocdar? It is necessary that we should learn, in +order to comprehend the events that were ere long to startle and terrify +the nations of Christendom. + +At the time when Louis, King of France, undertook his Crusade, it was +the custom, when two eastern potentates went to war, for the conqueror +to sell the subjects of the vanquished enemy as slaves; and many of +these, bought by merchants, were carried to Egypt, and sold to the +sultan, who had them trained from boyhood to serve him as soldiers. +Carefully were these young captives reared; and, when their beards began +to grow, they were taught to draw the bow and wield the sword. After +becoming expert in military exercises, they were admitted into that +famous body, which Saladin the Great had instituted, and known as +Mamelukes. Their privileges were many. They were highly favoured by the +sultan, wearing his emblazonments of pure gold, only adding bars of +vermilion, with birds or roses or griffins for difference, and acting as +his body-guard in time of war, and watching over his safety while he +slept. + +It seems that Bibars Bendocdar was originally brought to Egypt as a +slave, and, in course of time, enrolled as one of the Mamelukes. As such +he rose rapidly. His ambition was intense; and, being both able and +unscrupulous, he had no reason to despair of his ambition being one day +gratified. No position, indeed, could be more favourable to a man eager +to emerge from obscurity to eminence, than that which he occupied; and +he not only succeeded in winning the confidence of the sultan, but +contrived to insinuate himself into the good graces of the soldiers. In +truth, this with him was no difficult matter. He had profoundly studied +human nature as it was exhibited around him; and he comprehended, above +all things, the arts by which the hearts of fighting men are gained and +retained, and the arts also by which military adventurers elevate +themselves to supremacy in a state. + +Besides, Bibars Bendocdar had other qualities likely to render him a +formidable foe or a dangerous rival. He was skillful as a leader in war, +courageous in conflict, cruel in the hour of victory, and remarkable for +his penetration, sagacity, and activity. Moreover, he professed great +faith in the Mahometan religion, and had great faith also in his own +destiny. Such was the man who now watched events with the eagerness of a +gambler, and who recognised, not without satisfaction, the danger and +disorder, from the bosom of which a leader of courage and audacity +might, by rekindling enthusiasm and restoring order, elevate himself to +power. He was about to prove himself one of the most formidable foes +whom the soldiers of the Cross had ever been under the necessity of +encountering. + +Into the presence of the Emir Fakreddin and Bibars Bendocdar young Guy +Muschamp, drenched and agitated, was carried. Alarmed as he well might +be, the squire exhibited a dauntless air and presented a bold front. In +fact, his demeanour was such that the Saracen chiefs exchanged glances +of surprise. + +'Who are you?' asked Fakreddin. + +'My name is Muschamp, and I am a subject of the King of England.' + +'And what brought you to Egypt?' + +'I came to fight for the Holy Sepulchre.' + +'And,' asked Bibars Bendocdar, sternly, 'know you not that passage in +the Koran which says that they who make war unjustly shall perish?' + +'Saracen,' replied Guy, proudly, 'an Anglo-Norman gentleman does not +regulate his conduct by the Koran.' + +'However,' said Fakreddin, waving his hand, 'it is needful that you +answer some questions as to the army of Franks, and that you answer +truly.' + +'Saracen,' replied Guy, resolutely, 'I will not answer a question on the +subject.' + +'Fool!' exclaimed Bibars Bendocdar, impatiently; 'know you not your +danger? Know you not that we can instantly order your head to be struck +off?' + +'Doubtless,' replied Guy. 'And, in that case, I die the death of a +martyr, and go straight to paradise.' + +'Infidel!' cried Bibars, loudly; 'you know not of what you speak. You +will have to account for your faith to the angels Munkir and Nakir.' + +'Munkir and Nakir!' exclaimed Guy, with an air of perplexity; 'beshrew +me if I ever before heard of their names.' + +'You will know them soon enough, if you act not more discreetly,' said +Bibars; 'for they are the two angels who interrogate the dead the moment +they are in the grave, saying, "Who is thy lord?" and, "Who is thy +prophet?"' + +'On my faith, Saracen,' said Guy, compassionately, 'I marvel much that a +man of your years can credit such pagan fables.' + +'Dog!' exclaimed Bibars. 'This to my beard! Ho! there, guards! Strike +off this Christian's head, and cast his carcase to the fishes!' + +'No,' said Fakreddin, mildly, 'it is well that he should have time to +reflect. Let him be kept as a prisoner till the morrow. He will then be +more likely to answer the questions asked of him.' + +Accordingly Guy Muschamp was led from the presence of the Saracen chiefs +and shut up in a small apartment in the centre of Fakreddin's tent. The +position was the reverse of pleasant; and he almost gave himself up for +lost. Next morning, however, after he had eaten some food brought him by +the jailer, he was startled, first by a commotion in the camp, and then +by such a noise and tumult as if all the fiends had come thither from +the infernal regions to fight their battles. Gradually, through the din, +the ear of Guy recognised the clash of weapons and the rushing of +steeds, and his suspense was agonising. For a time he endeavoured to +make out what was occurring; but this was in vain. At length the noise +ceased; and Guy moved to the door with the intention of making a +desperate effort to break it open. Somewhat to his surprise, he found +that it did not resist. In fact, the jailer was gone and the camp +deserted. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +PASSING THE ACHMOUN. + + +MORE than six weeks had passed since the Crusaders found their progress +arrested by the Achmoun; and still the causeway by which they had hoped +to pass the canal was not constructed. Indeed, the workmen had made very +little progress since the first week; and Louis was despairing of seeing +the work brought to a completion, when, much to his gratification, he +learned that there was a prospect of crossing the canal by the simplest +of all processes. + +On the day when Guy Muschamp was carried off as a captive, the Constable +of France was surprised by a visit from a Bedouin, and demanded his +business. The Bedouin thereupon offered, for five hundred golden +bezants, to point out a ford by which the Crusaders might, without +danger or difficulty, cross in safety to the opposite bank. The +constable at once promised the required reward, in the event of the +information proving satisfactory; but it was not till the money was told +down that the Bedouin conducted him to the spot, and convinced him that +the ford was there. Gladly hastening to Louis, the constable revealed +the means of extricating the armed pilgrims from their embarrassment; +and the king, assembling the princes and nobles, decided on leaving the +Duke of Burgundy on the Damietta side with a sufficient force to guard +the camp; and then, mastering their men and mounting their horses, they +at midnight marched along the bank of the canal to the ford pointed out +by the Bedouin, and awaited the break of day to dash through the water +and move towards Mansourah. + +It was the morning of Tuesday, the 8th of February, 1250--Shrove +Tuesday--when the armed pilgrims, under the auspices of King Louis, +halted on the Damietta side of the Achmoun, and awaited the signal to +pass to that on which Mansourah was situated. Everything so far had gone +quite as smoothly as could reasonably have been expected. Some horsemen, +indeed, rode too near the margin of the canal, and, getting on soft and +slippery ground, they and their horses fell in and were drowned. Among +them was Sir John of Orleans, a valiant knight, who bore the French +banner. But this was a slight misfortune compared with that which the +folly and presumption of one man was preparing for that ill-starred +host. + +At all times, and under all circumstances, the Count of Artois was one +of the most unreasonable of human beings; and at this moment, so +important to Louis, to France, to the Crusaders, and to the Christian +kingdom of Jerusalem, nothing would satisfy his ambition but being the +first to cross. Not unaware of his brother's failings, Louis protested; +but the count persisted; and, promising to wait with patience on the +opposite bank for the main army, he placed himself at the head of the +van, which was formed of the Templars, the Hospitallers, and the English +Crusaders, and dashed into the canal. + +Now, at this moment the opposite bank was occupied by several hundred +Saracen horsemen, who seemed prepared to oppose the landing of the +Crusaders. No sooner, however, did the Saracens perceive that the +Crusaders were fording the canal safely than they gave way, and fled +towards the camp of the Emir Fakreddin at Djedile. + +It was then that, in spite of all the warnings he had received and all +the promises he had made, the Count of Artois gave way to the +impetuosity that was destined to lead to the ruin of the pilgrim army. +At the sight of the flying Saracens, he threw all discretion to the +winds, and, attended by his governor, an old deaf knight, who held his +rein, pursued the fugitives towards the camp. In vain the Grand Masters +of the Temple and the Hospital shouted out remonstrances. The count paid +no attention whatever; and the aged knight, who was too deaf to hear a +word, urged on the pursuit, crying loudly, 'Hurrah! hurrah! Upon them! +upon them!' + +The Saracens who occupied the camp at Djedile were panic-stricken; and, +supposing that the whole French army was upon them, fled in confusion +towards Mansourah. But there was one man who did not fly; and that man +was Fakreddin. When the camp was invaded, the emir was in his bath, and +having his beard coloured, after the custom of the Orientals; but he +immediately roused himself, dressed himself hastily, and, springing on +horseback, endeavoured to rally his troops, and attempted to resist. +Inspired by Fakreddin's example, the Saracens who had not fled offered a +feeble resistance. But it was unavailing, and they followed the +fugitives streaming towards Mansourah. Fakreddin, however, disdaining +either to fly or yield, continued to struggle bravely; until, left +almost alone, he fell in the midst of his foes, covered with wounds, and +consoling himself, as his breath went, that his end was glorious, that +he died a martyr for Islamism, and that he would be conveyed to the +banks of the celestial river. + +'By the head of St. Anthony!' exclaimed the Count of Artois, looking +fiercely on Fakreddin's mangled corpse, 'it was this emir who boasted +that he would dine in the red tent of my lord the king; but now he will +not grumble at a humbler resting-place.' + +'My lord count,' said Salisbury, gravely, 'the emir, had he been ten +times a Saracen, was a brave man; and let us merit the praises of the +valiant by showing that we know how to honour the memory of our enemies +as well as of our friends.' + +'Amen,' said both the grand masters, in significant accents. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE CARNAGE OF MANSOURAH. + + +IT was still early morning, and King Louis was still on the Damietta +side of the Achmoun, when the Count of Artois, the Earl of Salisbury, +and the Grand Masters of the Temple and the Hospital, found themselves +victors in the camp. + +'Now, gentlemen,' said the Count of Artois, 'let us forward, and +complete the rout of our foes while affairs prosper in our hands and +they are in dismay. Speed will now avail more than strength; and the +fewer we are the greater will be the honour of a victory. Forward then, +and crush them at a blow!' + +'Forward!' shouted the old deaf knight, who held the count's rein. +'Hurrah! hurrah! Upon them! upon them!' + +But the count's companions hesitated, and exchanged glances of alarm. + +'Noble prince,' said the Master of the Temple, after a pause, 'I give +all praise to your valour; but I entreat you to be advised, and not to +act rashly. Our men are weary; our horses are wounded; we are few in +number; and we must not overvalue our victory, or suppose our enemies +are vanquished because they have lost a handful of men. Let us, +therefore, return to the king, that we may be strengthened by his +counsel and aid.' + +'In truth,' said the Grand Master of the Hospital, 'we should be +foolhardy to attempt aught rashly. We are in a strange country; and our +best instructors are behind. Let us stay for our lantern and not go +forward in the dark.' + +'Ah!' exclaimed the Count of Artois, swelling with pride and anger, +'this is ever the way with military monks. But for the treachery of the +Templars, and the sedition of the Hospitallers, the Holy Land would long +since have been won.' + +'Noble count,' said the Grand Master of the Temple, reproachfully, 'you +do us grievous wrong. Why should we take the habit of religion, and pass +our lives in a foreign land amid perils and fatigues? Is it, think you, +to overthrow the Church and betray the cause of Christ, that we abandon +our homes and kindred? However,' added the Grand Master, waxing wrath, +'let us forward, in God's name, and try all together the fortunes of +battle. Standard-bearer, unfurl the banner of the Temple. Ha! +Beau-seant! Beau-seant!' + +At this moment the Earl of Salisbury made an effort to save his comrades +from the destruction on which they were about to rush. + +'My lord,' said he, addressing the Count of Artois, 'I implore you to +listen to the wholesome counsel of the grand masters. They have been +long in this country, and learned by experience the craft as well as the +strength of our foes. We, being strangers, are ignorant of the perils; +but we know that, as far as the east is from the west, so far are my +ways different from the ways of the Orientals.' + +'Hearken to this Englishman!' exclaimed the count, scornfully. 'What +cowardice there is in these English! But their timid counsel suits not +us. Happy should I be if the Christian army were purged of the English +tails!' + +A flush of rage crimsoned the earl's bronzed cheek, and his eye flashed +fire. + +'Now, by my father's sword!' cried he, striving to be calm, though he +literally quivered with indignation, 'this passes human patience! Ho! +there, Lord Robert de Vere, raise my banner; and you, Count of Artois, +lead on, and see if the danger of death hinders us from following. The +touchstone must try which is gold and which is brass; and I swear, by +good St. George, as I put on my helmet, that the English knights whom +you have taunted with cowardice will this day penetrate farther in the +ranks of our foes than any warrior of France--be he prince or +paladin--will venture to do.' + +And the dispute having there been terminated, the Count of Artois and +his Crusaders put on their helmets and mounted their horses. At that +moment the eye of Salisbury alighted on Walter Espec; and his +countenance, which had expressed the most scornful indignation, suddenly +changed, and expressed something like pity. + +'Boy,' said he, in a low, kindly tone, 'fall back and wait for the +French king. We are rushing on certain death; and you are too young to +die.' + +'Nay, my good lord,' replied Walter, calmly. 'A man, whether young or +old, can die but once: I would rather fall fighting in the cause of our +Redeemer, and under your banner, than in a less holy cause and in meaner +company.' + +'As you will,' said the earl. 'It shall never be told that I prevented +knight or squire from dying the death of a martyr.' + +'By the might of Mary! Master Espec,' whispered Bisset; the English +knight, 'were I your age, and had my choice, certes, I should think +twice ere hazarding life against such odds. Wherefore should you fall a +victim to the madness of my Lord of Artois, or the pride of my Lord of +Salisbury?' + +'On my faith, I know not,' answered Walter, smiling. 'But this I do +know, that a man can die but once, and that a Christian warrior who +falls with the Cross on his shoulder is understood to win the crown of +martyrdom.' + +'Nevertheless, were I you, and of your years,' argued Bisset; 'I should +little relish the notion of being killed; for, as the Saracens say, when +man dies there is no hope of his living again; because, as they add +truly, man is not a water-melon; when once in the ground he cannot grow +again.' + +By this time French and Templars and Hospitallers and English were +mounted; and, without further argument, they dashed towards Mansourah. +At first they encountered no obstacle; and, while the inhabitants fled +in terror along the road to Cairo, the Count of Artois and his +companions, after destroying one of the gates, so as to secure egress +if necessary, penetrated into the city, carrying all before them; and, +reaching the palace of the sultan, they commenced the work of pillage. +But during this process they were rudely interrupted; for Bibars +Bendocdar perceived the imprudence of which the Crusaders had been +guilty, and suddenly, at the head of a Saracen army, appeared to give +them battle. + +And now the Crusaders were in a fearful predicament. Ere they had time +to rally, they were fiercely attacked. From the roofs and windows of the +houses around, the Saracens hurled stones, and poured heated sand and +boiling water. Before them were the Mamelukes, headed by Bibars +Bendocdar, fiery with fanaticism, and panting for blood. It was a +terrible situation even for brave men; and the very bravest there felt a +thrill of awe and terror. + +'All is lost!' said Salisbury, in a whisper. + +'The King of France may hear of our peril, and come to our rescue,' +suggested Lord Robert de Vere. + +'No hope of succour,' said Bisset, in a conclusive tone. 'But let us not +droop. We can at least sell our lives dearly.' + +A brief and painful silence succeeded, while still upon the Crusaders +the Saracens hurled stones and poured boiling water. + +'Englishmen and friends,' at length said Salisbury, raising his voice so +as to be heard at a distance, 'it were vain at this moment to deny our +peril. But take courage, my brave companions; and let us not faint in +the hour of adversity. Everything, save dishonour, may be borne by +valiant men; and adversity sheds a light upon the virtues of mankind, as +surely as prosperity casts over them a shade. Here there is no room for +retreat; for our enemies encompass us about; and to attempt to fly would +be certain death. Be of good cheer, then, and let the urgency of the +case sharpen your valour and nerve your arms. Brave men should either +conquer nobly, or die with glory; and martyrdom is a boon which we +should accept without reluctance. But, before we fall, let us, while we +live, do what may avenge our deaths; and, while giving thanks to God +that it is our lot to die as martyrs, let us, in our last efforts of +valour and despair, prove ourselves worthy soldiers of the Cross.' + +'Earl William,' said the Count of Artois, riding up, and now conscious +of his folly, 'God fights against us. Resistance is vain, but escape is +possible. Let us consult our safety, and fly while yet our horses can +carry us.' + +'Fly if you will!' answered the earl, scornfully; 'but God forbid that +any but liars should ever have it in their power to tell that my +father's son fled from the face of a Saracen.' + +And now the heavens and the earth seemed to resound with the noise of +horns and enormous kettle-drums; and, urged on by Bibars Bendocdar, the +Saracens rushed upon their enemies. The plight of the Crusaders was +desperate. But, few as they were in comparison with the swarming foe, +they fought gallantly and well; and, though wounded and exhausted, +maintained the conflict for hours after the flight of the Count of +Artois. But fearful in the meantime was the carnage. Full fifteen +hundred knights had fallen; and of these, three hundred were of the +order of the Temple. Gradually the numbers diminished, till there +remained not a dozen of the men who had that morning invaded Fakreddin's +camp; and among these were the Earl of Salisbury, Lord Robert de Vere, +the Grand Masters of the Temple and the Hospital, Bisset the English +knight, and Walter Espec, still unwounded, and fighting as if he bore a +charmed life, and felt invulnerable to javelins or arrows. + +But all possibility of continuing to resist was now at an end, and every +hope of succour had vanished. Salisbury, resolved to sell his life +dearly, faced the Saracens with desperate valour, and used his +battle-axe with such effect that a hundred Saracens are said to have +fallen that day by his hand. At length his horse was killed under him; +and, after rising to his feet, and fighting for awhile with disdain, he +fell covered with wounds. Robert de Vere, already bleeding and +exhausted, no sooner saw Salisbury sink than he wrapped the English +standard round his body, and lay down to die by the great earl's side. +Bisset, Walter Espec, and the two grand masters, found themselves +surrounded by a host of foes, and defending themselves desperately +against every species of assailant. + +'Alas!' exclaimed the grand masters of the Temple, 'we are clearly +doomed.' + +'I would fain hope not,' answered Bisset, resolutely. 'Our weapons are +not willow-wands; we can cut our way through the pagan rabble.' + +'Shame upon us if we hesitate!' said Walter Espec. + +And drawing close together, with a rush which for a time bore down +opposition, the four survivors made a stern endeavour to reach the +gate,--the axe of Bisset and the swords of the military monks doing +terrible execution. Twice the Saracens formed in a mass to prevent their +reaching the only gate which was not closed; as often Bisset, +penetrating singly into the Saracen ranks, dealt death and destruction +to his foes, and opened the way for his friends; till gradually, having +by force of arm overthrown every obstacle in his path, he reached the +gate, and, followed by the Grand Master of the Temple, dashed through +the opening, with a shout of defiance at his assailants. + +But the Grand Master of the Hospital and Walter Espec had not such good +fortune as the Templar and the English knight. Bibars Bendocdar, enraged +at the rumour that some Christians were escaping from the carnage, +hastened to the open gate, and, with his arrival, every chance vanished. +Dragged from his steed, the grand master was fain to surrender himself +prisoner. Wounded by an arrow and a javelin, but still struggling to +fight his way out, Walter Espec cut down a Saracen soldier, and, rising +in his stirrups and shouting, 'St. Katherine for Espec!' made a fierce +thrust at Bendocdar. But next moment he was felled to the ground; he +felt that his blood was flowing fast, and that horsemen were riding over +him; and then he lost all consciousness, and lay prostrate and +insensible among the dead and the dying. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE BATTLE. + + +NO sooner did Guy Muschamp find the door of his prison opened, than he +rushed out to ascertain the cause of the tumult to which he was indebted +for liberty, and he discovered that the camp was deserted and abandoned, +save by the wounded and the slain. However, he hastily donned his steel +cap, possessed himself of a short sword; and having with little +difficulty caught a stray horse, saddled and bridled, he mounted, and +rode forth with the idea of following the Crusaders, who by this time +were disappearing within the gates of Mansourah. + +Fortunately, however, for Guy, he was not destined to share the fate of +his gallant countrymen who fell victims to the vain folly of the Count +of Artois. Nevertheless, his danger was great. By this time the Count of +Brittany and a multitude of warriors were riding towards Mansourah to +aid the Count of Artois; and, as the Saracens who came out to oppose +their progress rapidly spread over the plain, Guy began to find his +position somewhat perilous, and to give himself up for lost. At that +moment, however, his eye and his ear were attracted by the gleaming of +spears and the ringing of mail to a ruined house; and, cantering +thither, he found to his joyful surprise, that the Lord of Joinville and +his knights had taken shelter there, to await the arrival of the king, +who was still engaged in passing the main body of his army over the +Achmoun. + +Nor had they long to wait. As with breathless anxiety they watched the +Saracens, swarming like bees from their hives, and covering the plain, +Louis, having at length crossed the canal, with sound of trumpets and +clarions, rode up at the head of his cavalry, and, with a German sword +in his hand, halted on an eminence to survey the field. And neither in +air nor appearance did Louis, at that moment, look unworthy of the part +he was acting as chief of the pilgrim army. His magnificent armour, his +gilded helmet, and his noble bearing, gave him the appearance of being +taller by the shoulders than any of his companions. As he reined up his +white charger--the symbol of sovereignty--and, with the oriflamme +displayed before him, endeavoured calmly to estimate the chances of the +conflict, the Lord of Joinville and his knights, surrounded as they were +with danger, could not but utter exclamations expressive of admiration. + +'By St. James,' exclaimed Joinville, 'I never in my life saw a more +handsome man under arms.' + +'Certes,' replied one of the knights, 'I could almost believe that the +angel of battles had come to our aid.' + +While the king was still surveying the combat, that every moment became +more fierce and sanguinary, the Constable of France rode up to inform +him of the peril of the Count of Artois. + +'Sire,' said the constable, 'your noble brother is shut up in Mansourah; +and, albeit he and his comrades hold out gallantly, they must perish if +not aided forthwith.' + +'Well, constable,' answered Louis, 'on to the rescue, in God's name, and +I will speedily follow.' + +The constable, without more words, gave his horse the spur, and dashed +towards Mansourah, whither the king and his knights also attempted to +make their way. But this was no easy matter. Every moment the Saracens +seemed to increase in numbers; and the Crusaders, while struggling +bravely not to be overwhelmed by odds, were exposed to terrible hazard. +Louis soon found himself in the thick of the fight and environed by +foes. Nothing seemed to remain to him but to sell his life dearly; and +six Saracens, rushing forward simultaneously, attempted to seize his +bridle, and take him captive. But, at that moment, Louis--gentle and +saintly as was his nature--used his German sword with a vigour and +effect, scarcely excelled by Richard Coeur de Lion at Joppa, when he +charged among the Mamelukes of Saladin, or by Edward Longshanks at +Kakhow, when the sweep of his sword, and the rush of his grey steed, +struck terror into the heart of the host of Bibars Bendocdar. Down +before that short German sword went turban and caftan; till the French +knights, aware of their king's danger, spurred in to his rescue, and, +with a mighty effort, saved him from captivity. + +And now another attempt was made to reach Mansourah. But it was too +late. All was over with the brave band who had followed the Count of +Artois into the city; and every moment the aspect of affairs became more +menacing; for Bibars Bendocdar, elate with his victory within the walls, +issued from the gate, animating his soldiers with the words--'God is +powerful,' and hoping to deal with the French king, as he had dealt with +the French king's brother. Nor, at first, did it appear that the +Crusaders could escape utter defeat. Not aware what was occurring, and +suddenly attacked by a mighty force led by a dauntless chief, they were +pressed and whirled about and separated from each other, and forced to +encounter countless odds at every disadvantage. Yet even in such +circumstances the warriors of France maintained their high reputation +for valour; and, as the combat proceeded and became keener and keener, +many a strong Saracen went to his account. + +On both sides, indeed, great was the display of personal prowess and +courage; but there was no generalship. Amidst clouds of dust, and under +a glowing sun, Christian and Moslem fought hand to hand, and steel to +steel. Helmet and turban mingled confusedly in the struggle; while +banners rose and fell, and knights were unhorsed, and saddles emptied. +From Mansourah to Achmoun, and from the Nile to the ford pointed out by +the Bedouin, the ground, literally covered with combatants, shook with +the rush of their horses, and the sky was rent by the opposing war-cries +of 'Islam! Islam!' and 'Montjoie, St. Denis!' What with the shouts of +the living, the shrieks of the dying, and the yells of the Saracens, as +they bore down on their adversaries like hawks on their prey, all was +bloodshed, confusion, and clamour, and the carnage was such as few men, +who fought on that field and survived it, ever remembered without a +thrill of awe. + +And as the day sped on and the battle continued to rage all over the +plain, and warriors fell in heaps before and around him, Louis became +painfully aware that Mansourah could not be reached, and that the +Crusaders were no longer fighting to conquer the Saracens but to save +themselves. And there was considerable danger of Bibars Bendocdar +drawing near to the Achmoun, and cutting off all communication between +the camp of the Duke of Burgundy, and the Christian army struggling for +existence on the plains of Mansourah. On becoming aware of the danger, +the king decided on falling back towards the canal, and, with the +oriflamme displayed, moved in that direction. + +Unfortunate were the consequences. A report immediately spread that the +king was retreating because the Saracens were everywhere victorious, and +immediately there was a panic, and several squadrons disbanded and +rushed towards the canal. A terrible scene followed, and men and horses +were drowned while struggling in the water. Nothing could have exceeded +the disorder and dismay. Louis, indeed, made strenuous efforts to +restore confidence, but his voice was scarcely heard in the tumult; and +he must have rejoiced when night put an end to the conflict, and when +Bibars Bendocdar retired to Mansourah, with the determination to attack +the Crusaders on another day, as the tiger draws back to make a more +terrible spring. + +Repairing to Djedile, Louis dismounted, and took possession of the camp +which, at daybreak, had been occupied by the Emir Fakreddin; and when +his red tent was pitched there, the Prior of Rosnay presented himself, +and kissed the king's hand. + +'Sire,' said he, wishing to break the news gently, 'I know not if you +have heard tidings of your noble brother, the Count of Artois?' + +'I know all,' answered Louis, mournfully. + +'Sire,' said the prior, endeavouring to administer consolation, 'no King +of France has ever reaped such honour as you have done this day. You +have crossed a dangerous river; you have gained a victory; you have put +your enemies to flight; you have captured their engines of war; and now +you are taking possession of their camp.' + +'May God be praised for all that I have, with His aid, been able to do +in His cause,' said Louis, with a faltering voice, and tears rolling +down his cheeks, as he entered his pavilion. + +'On my faith, sir prior,' said John de Valery, with the tone of a man +who has a presentiment of coming calamity, 'I marvel how you can speak +of this day's work as a triumph of our arms. Often have I fought for +victory; but this day I have felt too surely that I was fighting not for +victory but for life.' + +'In truth,' said the Lord of Joinville, who had joined them, 'I would +fain hope for better fortune in the future; for, call this a victory if +you will, such another victory would be worse than a defeat.' + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +HOW JOINVILLE KEPT THE BRIDGE. + + +WHEN the Constable of France informed King Louis that the Count of +Artois was in extreme peril, and when Louis made an effort to go to the +rescue of his brother--the Lord of Joinville, having previously left the +ruined house, and joined the king, endeavoured to keep in the royal +warrior's company. But all efforts with this object proved vain. The +Saracens, raising clouds of dust and uttering ferocious yells as they +advanced, came down upon the Crusaders with a force that was +irresistible. The French were scattered in all directions; and Joinville +was separated from Louis some minutes before the person of the saintly +monarch was in such imminent danger. But in the meantime the seneschal's +band had been reduced to six persons, including Guy Muschamp, who +adhered with determination to Joinville's side; and between them and the +king, then struggling to save his liberty, intervened thousands of +Saracens. + +'Impossible for us to make our way through such a crowd,' said +Joinville; 'much better, therefore, will it be to wheel round and get on +the other side of them.' + +Accordingly they wheeled round, and gained the bank of the river, and +began to descend. But at this moment the aspect of the field became most +alarming to the armed pilgrims. The Crusaders and Saracens met on the +banks, and many of the French, attempting to cross and form a junction +with the Duke of Burgundy, were drowned; and the river was covered with +lances, pikes, shields, and horses and men struggling in vain to save +themselves. + +By this time the Lord of Joinville, heading his knights, had reached a +bridge on one of the roads to Mansourah; and on perceiving the miserable +state of the army he halted. + +'It is better,' said he, after looking round, 'to remain where we are, +and guard this bridge; for, if we leave it, the Saracens may come and +attack the king on this side, and, if he is assaulted from two quarters, +he will surely be discomfited.' + +Accordingly they posted themselves on the bridge which was between the +canal Achmoun and the gates of Mansourah, and prepared to defend it +against the Saracens. But such was the danger, that Joinville's heart, +brave as it was, beat with terror, and he cried aloud for the protection +of St. James. + +'Good Lord St. James,' exclaimed he; 'succour me, I beseech thee, and +come to my aid in this hour of need.' + +It seemed to him and his companions that his prayer was answered. Almost +as he uttered it, the Count of Soissons, who was his kinsman, appeared +riding past the bridge; and Joinville hastened to secure his company. + +'Sir count,' said he; 'I beg you to remain with us and guard this +bridge; for, should it be lost, the king will have his enemies upon him +both in front and rear.' + +'Willingly, seneschal,' replied the count; and he placed himself on +Joinville's right hand, while a French knight who was with him took his +station on the left. + +While Joinville and his companions were seated on their horses, prepared +to keep the bridge at all hazards against all comers, the Saracens made +repeated efforts to drive them from their post. But they remained firm +as rocks. Trusting to accomplish by stratagem what they could not do by +force, the Saracens attempted to lure them from the spot; and one +stalwart horseman, galloping suddenly forward, felled one of the French +knights with his battle-axe, and then retreated to his own people, +hoping that he would be followed. But Joinville, who comprehended the +purpose, would not be decoyed, and resolutely kept his ground, though +annoyed and wounded by a rabble of half-armed Saracens, who incessantly +threw darts, and large stones, and hard clods. + +At length, however, the Saracens began to make themselves much more +formidable, and to discharge Greek fire, which threatened to do much +mischief, and pressed forward with savage yells. + +'On my faith, we must take order with this rabble,' said the Count of +Soissons, growing angry. + +'As you will,' replied Joinville; and, without further hesitation, they +charged the crowd, put them to flight, and resumed their post. + +But no sooner did the Saracens perceive that the immediate danger was +over, than they turned round, and, keeping at a safe distance, yelled +out defiance. + +'Heed them not, seneschal,' said the Count of Soissons, who, in the +midst of peril, retained all the gaiety of soul which distinguished the +French chevaliers from the thoughtful Saxon, and the haughty and +somewhat grim Norman. 'Heed them not. Let this rascal canaille bawl and +bray as they please. By St. Denis, you and I will live to talk of this +day's exploits in the chambers of our ladies.' + +'May God and good St. James grant it,' said Joinville, gravely. + +'But who comes hither, and in such a plight?' asked the Count of +Soissons, suddenly, as a Crusader, mounted on a strong horse, came +galloping from the direction of Mansourah--his face wounded, blood +gushing from his mouth, the reins of his bridle cut, and his hands +resting, as if for support, on his charger's neck. + +'In truth,' replied Joinville, after examining the horseman, 'it is the +Count of Brittany;' as, closely pursued by Saracens, the wounded warrior +gained the bridge, and ever and anon turned round and shouted mockingly +to his pursuers. + +'By St. Denis,' exclaimed the count, 'one thing is certain: he is not +afraid of his pursuers.' + +And almost as the Count of Soissons spoke, the Count of Brittany was +followed by two warriors, who made their way through the Saracens, +literally smiting to the earth all who came in their way. Nothing, it +seemed, could resist their progress; and their path was tracked with +blood. On they came, scornfully scattering their foes till they reached +the bridge, when reining up where the Lord of Joinville was posted, they +stopped to take breath, after their almost superhuman exertions. One had +in his hand a battle-axe; the other a sword. The battle-axe was stained +red with gore; the sword was hacked till it looked 'like a saw of dark +and purple tint.' One was Bisset, the English knight, the other was the +Grand Master of the Temple. The horses of both were wounded all over; +the helmets of both were deeply dinted. Bisset's mail was almost hacked +to pieces; the Templar's vestments were torn to rags, his cuirass +pierced, and his eye and face wounded and bleeding. + +'You bring tidings of woe?' said the Count of Soissons. + +'Woe, in truth,' answered Bisset; for the grand master could not even +muster voice to speak; 'of all who rode into Mansourah this morning, not +a man, save ourselves, lives to tell the tale.' + +'And what of the Count of Artois, sir knight?' asked Joinville. + +'I know not,' replied Bisset, briefly; 'the count disappeared early, and +doubtless died with the comrades of his jeopardy.' + +'No,' interrupted the Count of Brittany, faintly, 'he was drowned while +attempting to save himself by flight. At least,' added he, 'so I have +been told.' + +And in truth, to this day it is somewhat uncertain what became of +Robert, Count of Artois, though the most probable account is that, +seeing all was lost, he turned his horse's head, with a vague hope of +reaching the main body of the Crusaders, and, while attempting to cross +one of the branches of the Nile, sank never more to rise. + +It was about this time that King Louis had moved towards the Achmoun; +and the Constable of France, with the king's crossbowmen under his +command, just as the sun was setting came to the bridge which had been +so bravely defended. + +'Seneschal,' said he, addressing Joinville, 'you and your comrades have +behaved well in guarding this bridge; and now, all danger being over in +this quarter, I pray you to accompany the Lord John de Valery to the +king, who is about to go to his pavilion.' + +And Joinville went as the constable requested; and while his companions +were pursuing their way towards the king's red pavilion--that pavilion +in which the Emir Fakreddin had boasted he would dine on the day of St. +Sebastian--Guy Muschamp approached Bisset, the English knight, and +entreated his attention. + +'Sir knight,' said he, 'I would fain enquire if you know what has +befallen the English squire, by name Walter Espec?' + +'Boy,' replied Bisset, 'I know not what may have befallen him; but, if I +were to hazard a guess, I should say that he died, and died bravely. I +remember me that he fought to the last; and I hoped that he was destined +to escape, as I did; but I grieve to say that he failed so to do.' + +'Alas! alas!' said Guy sadly, and he clasped his hands, as if muttering +a prayer for his comrade's soul; 'woe is me, that I should live to hear +that my brother-in-arms, the good Walter, has fallen.' + +'My brave youth,' urged Bisset, kindly, as he observed that the boy's +face was suffused with tears, 'death has this day been the portion of +many thousands of valiant men; and, for your brother-in-arms, I can +testify for your comfort that he fought to the last with the courage of +a hero, and I doubt not, that he faced death with the courage of a +martyr.' + +'And if we are to give the faith which our fathers did to the words of +holy men,' added Guy, solemnly, 'the souls of all such as fall, fighting +for the Cross, are purified from sin, and admitted straight to +Paradise.' + +'By the mass, I have heard priests say so,' replied Bisset, after a +pause, during which he eyed the boy with evident surprise; 'and mayhap,' +continued he, 'in the days of Peter the Hermit, and Godfrey of Bouillon, +such was the case. But, credit me, in our day, armed pilgrims are guilty +of such flagrant sins during their pilgrimage, and while decked with the +Cross, that I hardly deem them likely to get access to Paradise on such +easy terms.' + +'By St. John of Beverley,' exclaimed the squire, in great astonishment, +'deem you that matters are so much changed, sir knight?' + +'So much so,' answered Bisset, shaking his head, 'that seeing, save +myself, you are almost the only Englishman left in this army of +pilgrims, I am free to confess to you my opinion, that for aught we are +likely to do for the Holy Sepulchre, we might as well have stayed at +home, and hunted, and hawked, and held our neighbours at feud. On my +life, I have seen enough of this army to feel sure that Blacas, the +troubadour knight, is a wise man, when on being asked whether he will go +to the Holy Land, answers, that he loves and is beloved, and that he +will remain at home with his ladye love.' + +And already, forgetting his wounds, and his bruises, his hair-breadth +escape, and the terrible scenes in which he had that day acted a part, +the knight, as he reached the tent of King Louis, and prepared to +dismount, half chanted, half sung, the lines with which Blacas concludes +his simple song:-- + + Je ferai ma penitence, + Entre mer et Durance, + Aupres de son manoir. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE FIRST FRIDAY IN LENT. + + +ON the day when the city of Mansourah witnessed the carnage of the +Crusaders under the Count of Artois, and a great battle shook the plain +outside the walls, the Egyptians experienced by turns fear and hope, joy +and sadness. + +On the morning when the camp at Djedile was taken, and the Emir +Fakreddin slain, a pigeon carried intelligence of the disaster to Cairo; +and the Egyptian capital was immediately in consternation. Believing +that the days of Islamism were numbered, and the empire of the sultan on +the verge of ruin, the inhabitants thought of nothing but escape from +the danger that impended. Many departed for Upper Egypt, and sorrow +reigned in the city--the inhabitants bewailing their misfortunes, and +crying that the world was coming to an end. A second pigeon, however, +carried thither tidings that the Count of Artois was defeated and slain; +and Cairo became the scene of joy and rejoicing. Fear vanished from +every face; and the Saracens gratefully extolled the courage of the +Mamelukes, and of their chief, Bibars Bendocdar. + +At the same time, an arrival of great importance took place at +Mansourah. While the battle was raging on the plain, Touran Chah, the +new sultan, reached the city, and was received with acclamations by the +populace. The emirs, however, regarded the sultan with some suspicion. +Unfortunately, Touran Chah did not come alone; and the jealousy of the +emirs was aroused by the presence of the favourites who accompanied him +from Mesopotamia. If the heir of Saladin could have foreseen what a +price he was to pay for the happiness of having his favourites with him, +he would doubtless have been discreet enough to leave them behind. + +But, in the meantime, it was necessary for the safety and interests both +of the sultan and the emirs, that the Crusaders should be destroyed; and +Bibars Bendocdar was bent on pursuing his success. In the first place, +he made several attempts to recapture the engines of war, and the French +were repeatedly roused to defend them at the point of the sword. But +these attacks led to a feeling of insecurity, and King Louis deemed it +prudent to construct a bridge of wood over the Achmoun, so as to have +the means of communicating readily with the Duke of Burgundy's camp. Who +at that time could have imagined the mischief of which this bridge was +subsequently to be the cause? + +Meanwhile Bibars Bendocdar was doing his best to inflame the enthusiasm +of the Mamelukes and soldiers. Nor, with that object, was he above +practising a little deception. A cuirass covered with fleur-de-lis was +publicly exhibited, and declared to be that of the French king. Heralds +proclaimed that the Christian army, deprived of its chief, was like a +trunk without a head; and the enthusiasm of the Saracens reached a high +pitch. At length, the soldiers began to clamour to be led against the +enemy, and Bibars Bendocdar fixed Friday, the 11th of February, as the +day on which he would lead them to triumph. + +It was the first Friday in Lent; and King Louis, having received warning +that an attack was meditated, gave orders for fortifying the camp, and +preparing for a conflict. At daybreak, accordingly, the Crusaders were +under arms; and, in good time, Bibars Bendocdar appeared on the plain, +setting his men in battle order. Placing his cavalry in the van, the +infantry behind, and a strong reserve in the rear, the Mameluke chief +extended his lines till his forces seemed to cover the plain. Nor was he +sorry to observe that there was a prospect of a stern resistance; for +the difficulties of his situation increased his importance in the eyes +of his soldiers, and every step he took in overcoming perils, from which +others shrank, brought him nearer to the object on which his heart was +set--that object being neither more nor less than the throne of the +sultans. + +And now, noon having come, with horns and kettle-drums sounding an +onset, Bibars Bendocdar advanced on the Crusaders, and attacked the +Count of Anjou, who was at the head of the camp on the side towards the +Nile. At first, the French cavalry calmly abided the assault; but they +soon found themselves exposed to a kind of attack which they had not +anticipated. In fact, the Saracen infantry, moving forward, overwhelmed +the knights with Greek fire, and threw them into confusion. Surcoats and +caparisons blazed, and the horses plunged, broke from the control of +their riders, and galloped to and fro. While they were in disorder, +Bibars Bendocdar, at the head of the Mamelukes, penetrated within the +entrenchments, and the Count of Anjou found himself surrounded by foes. + +Ere this, King Louis, aware of his brother's peril, despatched Bisset, +the English knight, with a message assuring the count of speedy aid; +but, ere the Englishman reached the Count of Anjou, he met the French +cavalry flying in disarray. Bisset reined up, and addressed the +fugitives. + +'Christian warriors,' said he, 'I come from your king to ask whither are +you flying? See you not that the horses of the unbelievers are swifter +than yours?' + +'It is too true,' replied the fugitives. + +'Come then,' said Bisset, 'follow me, and I will show you what your king +deems a safer road than flight;' and charging among the Mamelukes, in +front of the French cavalry, the English knight succeeded in maintaining +the conflict, which had commenced so inauspiciously for the French. + +And aid was at hand; for Louis did not forget his promise of succour. +Shouting his battle-cry, he spurred, lance in rest, to his brother's +rescue, and, precipitating himself with his knights on the Moslem +warriors, soon redeemed the disaster which had marked the opening of the +battle. Nor did the saint-king exhibit the slightest dread of exposing +his royal person. With a shout of 'Montjoie, St. Denis!' he charged into +the midst of the foe--his banner flying, and his sword flashing--and by +his example inspired the Crusaders with such courage that, after a +sanguinary combat, they succeeded in expelling the Mamelukes from the +camp, and driving back the infantry that threw the Greek fire. + +By this time the battle had become general, and everywhere the Crusaders +fought valiantly and well, though they had not always the advantage. In +fact, Bibars Bendocdar, as a war chief, possessed such a degree of skill +in handling masses of fighting men as neither Louis nor any of the +Crusaders could boast of; and the discipline of the Mamelukes was such +as to make them terrible foes to encounter. + +Nevertheless the Crusaders held their ground, and performed prodigies of +valour. At one point the warriors of Syria and Cyprus maintained their +ground against fearful odds; at a second, the knights of Champagne and +Flanders fought stoutly and well; at a third, such of the Templars as +had not fallen at Mansourah, headed by their grand master who had so +narrowly escaped the carnage, exhibited the fine spectacle of a handful +of men baffling a multitude, and, despite the showers of Greek fire and +missiles which fell so thick that the ground was literally covered with +arrows and javelins, kept the enemy at bay. Even when the grand master +fell mortally wounded, the Knights of the Temple continued to struggle; +and when their entrenchments failed, and the Saracens rushed into the +camp, the military monks closed their ranks and presented a front +against which the assailants continued for hours to charge violently, +but in vain. + +But meanwhile the peril of the Count of Poictiers had been great and +alarming. Composed of infantry, his division gave way before the rush of +the Saracen cavalry, and dispersed in consternation. Nor was this the +worst. The count himself, while endeavouring to rally his forces, was +seized, and experienced the mortification of finding himself dragged off +as a prisoner. But there was succour at hand. + +The Lord of Joinville and his knights were luckily posted near the Count +of Poictiers; but having all been so severely wounded in the battle of +Shrove Tuesday as to be unable to bear their armour, they could take no +prominent part in the conflict raging around them. No sooner, however, +did they observe the count's predicament than they deemed themselves +bound to interfere at all hazards; and Guy Muschamp, riding to the place +where the sutlers and workmen and women of the army were posted, urged +them to rouse themselves. + +'Good people,' cried the squire, 'the brave Count of Poictiers is being +carried into captivity. For our Leader's sake, succour the Count of +Poictiers. To the rescue! to the rescue!' + +Now the count was highly popular with the persons to whom this appeal +was addressed; and no sooner did they learn the prince's danger than +they displayed the utmost alacrity to aid him. Arming themselves with +axes, and clubs, and sticks, and anything that came in their way, they +rushed furiously forward, and, led on by the English squire, made so +successful an attack that the Saracens were dispersed, and the count was +rescued and carried back in triumph. + +'Young gentleman,' said the count, gratefully, 'I owe you my liberty. I +pray you, tell me to whom I am so deeply indebted.' + +'Noble count,' replied Guy, after telling his name, 'I am a squire of +England; and, for the present, I serve the Lord of Joinville.' + +'Ah,' said the count, smiling, 'the seneschal must give you to me; for I +would fain have an opportunity of proving how I can requite such good +service.' + +By this time Bibars Bendocdar perceived that he was wasting his strength +in vain, and sounded a retreat. But the Mameluke chief was not without +his consolation. He knew that he had ruined the enterprise of the +Crusaders; that they were no longer in a condition to attempt a march to +Cairo; and that they knew not on which side to turn. + +But when the Saracens retreated towards Damietta, and the danger was +over for the time being, the Crusaders were inclined to talk of their +successful resistance as a victory; and the knights and barons when +summoned that evening to the king's pavilion, went thither with the airs +of conquerors. + +'My lords and friends,' said Louis, kindly; 'we have much cause to be +grateful to God our Creator. On Tuesday, aided by Him, we dislodged our +enemies from their quarters, of which we gained possession. This day we +have defended ourselves against them, though taken at advantage; many of +us being left without arms or horses, while they were completely armed +and on horseback, and on their own ground. And since you have all +witnessed the grace which God our Creator has of late shown to us, and +continues to do daily, I commend you all, as you are bounden to do, to +return Him due thanksgiving.' + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +MORTIFICATIONS AND MISERIES. + + +NO longer could the armed pilgrims, so recently buoyed up with the hope +of making themselves famous as the conquerors of Egypt, delude their +imaginations with the project of advancing to Cairo. + +'It is necessary to retreat to Damietta,' said the wise and prudent. + +'A retreat to Damietta in the face of the foe is more than our pride can +brook,' exclaimed the haughty and obstinate. + +'Let us remain at Djedile, and trust to the course of events,' suggested +the reckless and the irresolute. + +At Djedile, accordingly, the Crusaders remained; and ere long, their +calamities began in earnest, and daily increased in magnitude. First +came disease; then came famine; and death and despair soon did more than +the Saracens could with the utmost efforts have hoped to accomplish. + +It appears that, after the two battles fought on the plains of +Mansourah, the Crusaders had neglected to bury the slain; and the bodies +thrown confusedly into the Achmoun, and floating on the water, stopped +before the wooden bridge, and infected the atmosphere. A contagious +disease was the consequence; and this, being increased by the abstinence +during Lent, wrought such havoc, that nothing was heard in the camp but +mourning and lamentation. Louis, sad, but still not in despair, exerted +himself to mitigate the sufferings of his army. At length he also fell +sick, and, every day, affairs wore a gloomier aspect. + +'It seems,' said Guy Muschamp, who lay prostrate with sickness in the +tent of the Lord of Joinville, 'it seems that Heaven has abandoned the +soldiers of the Cross.' + +'Hem,' replied Bisset, to whom this was addressed, 'I see not why Heaven +should be blamed for the evils which men bring on themselves by their +own folly. I warned you at Damietta what would be the end of all the +boastings which were uttered hourly. A haughty spirit goes before a +fall. Trust me, we have not yet seen the worst. By the might of Mary, we +armed pilgrims may yet find ourselves under a necessity similar to that +which made cannibals of the soldiers of King Cambyses when he made war +in Egypt!' + +'King Cambyses?' repeated Guy, enquiringly. + +'Ay,' replied Bisset, 'he was King of Persia, and almost as great a +monarch as King Louis; and when he was in this country his provisions +ran short. At first his soldiers lived on herbs, roots, and leaves; when +they could not get even these, they ate their horses and beasts of +burden; and, when the horses and beasts of burden were finished, they +began to devour one another; and every tenth man, on whom the lot fell, +was doomed to serve as a meal for his companions. Marry, we are like to +be in a similar plight; for famine begins to stare us in the face!' + +Guy groaned aloud, and wondered why he had left England; and, at that +time, indeed, the new and terrible danger daunted every heart. Resolved +to cut off all communication between Damietta and the camp of the +Crusaders, the sultan ordered a number of galleys to be transported +overland, to form an ambuscade; and many French vessels were +intercepted. For a time, Louis could not comprehend how no arrivals took +place, and felt the gravest alarm. Ere long, however, one vessel, +belonging to the Count of Flanders, escaped the vigilance of the +galleys, and brought tidings that the sultan's flag was displayed all +along the Nile. The Crusaders received this intelligence with horror; +and, in a few days, the evil of famine was added to that of pestilence. + +'What is to be done now?' asked they, giving way to despondency. + +'It is quite clear,' said Louis, 'that, in order to save ourselves, we +must treat with our enemies.' + +No time was lost. Philip de Montfort, a knight of renown, was despatched +as ambassador to the sultan, and was led to cherish hopes of success. +The sultan not only expressed his readiness to treat, but actually +nominated commissioners. At first everything went smoothly, and the +Saracens appeared reasonable in their demands. But when the question of +hostages came to be discussed, a difficulty arose. + +'I am empowered to offer the Counts of Poictiers and Anjou as hostages,' +said De Montfort. + +'No,' replied the Saracens, 'the sultan requires the King of France.' + +'You ought to know Frenchmen better,' exclaimed Geoffrey de Segrines, +one of the commissioners; 'they would rather die than leave their king +in pledge.' + +After this, the negotiation was broken off; and the French prepared to +cross the Achmoun by the bridge, and deliberate on the propriety of +marching back to Damietta. But even the passage of the bridge was not +effected without terrible danger and heavy loss. No sooner did the +Crusaders begin to move, than the Saracens came down upon them, and made +a furious attack; but Walter de Chatillon, a French baron of great fame, +led on his companions to the encounter, and after being seconded by the +Count of Anjou, succeeded in repulsing the foe. The Crusaders, however, +after remaining some days in their old camp, found that they were a prey +to the worst calamities, and, no longer hesitating, decided on a day for +returning to Damietta. + +Unfortunately for the armed pilgrims, their resolution was no secret to +the Saracens, and when Touran Chah became aware of their intended +movement down the Nile, he devised measures to intercept them. He +himself harangued his soldiers, distributed money and provisions, +reinforced them with Arabs attracted to his standard by the prospect of +booty, and ordered boats with troops on board to descend the river, and +join the fleet already there; while bodies of light horse were placed on +all the roads by which the Crusaders were likely to make good their +retreat. + +Nevertheless, the Crusaders, finding their present position desperate, +persevered in their resolution, and Tuesday, the 5th of April, was +appointed for the perilous enterprise. On the arrival of that day, the +sick, the wounded, the women, and the children, were embarked on the +Nile, and, at the same time, several French nobles, and the papal +legate, got on board a vessel. No doubt seems to have existed that Louis +might have saved himself. Even the Arabian historians admit that the +French king might have escaped, either in a boat or on horseback, if he +would have abandoned his army. But, with characteristic generosity, he +distinctly refused to separate his fate from theirs. Anxious about his +safety, the soldiers ran along the bank, shouting to the boatmen not to +set sail till the king embarked. + +'Wait for the king--wait for the king!' cried they. + +'No,' said Louis, his heart touched, but his resolution firm; 'go on. I +will share weal or woe with my soldiers. I am not such a niggard of +life, that I grudge to risk it in such company, and in such a cause.' + +And now the boats began to descend the Nile; and at the same time the +Duke of Burgundy, having broken up his camp, about nightfall commenced a +retreat towards Damietta. But at this stage, the French were guilty of a +piece of negligence that was destined to cost them dear. The king had +ordered the wooden bridge over the Achmoun to be destroyed. In their +agitation and haste, the French paid no attention to the order. In vain +Bisset, the English knight, protested against such insane indifference +to a manifest peril. + +'My masters,' said he, bluntly, 'we can hardly be deemed otherwise than +madmen, if we leave that bridge standing as it is, to afford the +Saracens a safe passage over the canal, to attack us in the rear.' + +'Sir knight,' replied the French drily, for they did not relish an +Englishman's interference, 'it is not from that quarter that danger is +most to be apprehended.' + +'Nevertheless,' urged Bisset. + +'We are wasting time to no purpose,' said the French; 'and this day, +time is more precious than your counsel.' + +'As you will, my masters,' replied Bisset; 'only credit me, that if you +leave that bridge behind you to facilitate the operations of your +enemies, you will place your army in such a predicament, that neither +the craft of Alexander of Macedon, nor William the Norman--could either +come from their graves to lead--would avail to save it from destruction +ere reaching Damietta.' + +And having administered this warning, Bisset withdrew, with the +consolation of a man who has done at least his duty, and with the air +also of a man much too reckless as to his personal safety to fear much +on his own account from the consequences of the blunders and incapacity +of others; then, arming himself, he saddled his steed, girded on his +sword, hung his battle-axe at his saddle-bow, and went to attend King +Louis during the perilous enterprise of marching through a country, with +armed foes posted at the turn of every road. + +'Hearken to that English tail,' said the French one to another, as +Bisset withdrew; 'these islanders are so timid, that they will next be +afraid of their own shadows.' + +'By the head of St. Anthony,' said a knight, who had been attached to +the Count of Artois, 'I hate the tailed English so, that I would leave +the bridge as it is, if only to mortify one of them.' + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE MASSACRE OF MINIEH. + + +IT was already dark when the pilgrim army commenced a perilous retreat +to Damietta, and when the King of France, surrounded by a band of brave +knights, undertook the duty of bringing up the rear--on that occasion +the post of honour. + +But Louis was in no condition to occupy such a position with advantage. +He was not fully recovered from his sickness, and so weak, that he could +hardly bear the weight of his armour, or support himself on his white +charger. Neither helmet nor cuirass wore he; nor had he any weapon save +his sword; nor had he sufficient strength to wield his sword to any +purpose in the event of a close encounter. + +And, as it happened, the post of honour speedily became the post of +danger. As Bisset had predicted, the Saracens lost not a minute in +availing themselves of the bridge that had been left standing. In an +incredibly brief space of time, they contrived to cross the canal in +such numbers, that the plain on the Damietta side was covered with +turbaned warriors, bent on the destruction of their foes; and, in the +darkness of the night, their cavalry charged constantly, and with +deadly effect, on the retiring and dispirited rear of the Crusaders. + +Of course, the plight of Louis and his comrades every hour became more +deplorable. They fell into disorder; they ran against and impeded each +other; and cries of anger and despair were mingled with the neighing of +horses, and the clash of arms. Earnestly they prayed for day, that they +might, at least, ascertain their real position; but, when day came, it +brought no comfort. In fact, when the rising sun revealed their +diminished and diminishing numbers, and the formidable force of enemies +who surrounded them--here a handful of men--there a host--the very +boldest of the Crusaders gave themselves up for lost, and a simultaneous +cry of terror and dismay broke from their scanty ranks. + +'Gentlemen,' said Louis, calm in the midst of peril, 'droop not. At the +great battle of Antioch, Godfrey of Bouillon, and his companions, had +worse odds than we.' + +'And they conquered,' said Walter de Chatillon, striving to banish +apprehension, 'and we may conquer.' + +'Yes,' replied Louis, 'they had faith in God's protection, and +confidence in the holiness of their cause; and it seemed to them that +while the struggle was well-nigh hopeless, the blessed martyrs--George, +Demetrius, and Theodore, came to aid them, and assure them of victory.' + +'Ha,' said Bisset, the English knight, as if speaking to himself, 'I +have heard that some saw St. George in the air, with an army of white +horses; but these did no doubt look through the spectacles of fancy.' + +Louis turned, bent his brow, and darted upon the speaker a glance of +keen reproach, which might have found fuller expression in words. But +there was no time for argument or admonition; for at that moment the +Saracens made one of their fiery charges, and though the French warriors +defended themselves and their king with heroism, they could not hope +that valour would ultimately save them. While Chatillon and Bisset, now +charging singly, now side by side, did wonders in keeping a space clear +around the king and the royal standard, Geoffrey de Segrines, adhering +to the side of Louis, wielded his sword with such effect that he drove +off, one by one, the horsemen who darted forth from the Saracen ranks. + +'In truth,' said the brave Frenchman, when complimented by Bisset on his +exploits, 'I know not how it is; but to me, it seems that the danger of +this day has doubled my strength.' + +'On my faith,' replied Bisset, 'I am at a loss whether more to admire +your valour or your vigilance. Your care of your good king reminds me of +the watchful servant who carefully drives away the flies from his +master's cup.' + +But brief were the intervals allowed even for such an exchange of +sentiments. Now secure of victory, and stimulated by enthusiasm and +fanaticism, the Saracens grew bolder and more audacious in their +attacks. Urged on by their dervishes and imaums, who had flocked to the +host of Saracens to remind them that they were fighting in the cause of +the prophet, they became more and more eager for carnage and blood, and +the Crusaders less and less capable of a stubborn resistance. At length, +on reaching the little town of Minieh, the Crusaders acknowledged that +they could no longer continue the retreat; and, halting, they drew up in +a body outside the town, with the simple resolution of fighting till +they fell. + +But by this time Louis was utterly exhausted; and Segrines, conducting +him into the court, lifted him from his steed, and carried him, 'weak as +a child in its mother's lap,' into a house, expecting every moment to be +his last. Nor did the prospects of the Crusaders outside improve in the +king's absence. Alarming rumours, vaguely flying about the town, reached +their ears and depressed their hearts; and, while they were still in +panic and incertitude, the Saracens made an onset with more than their +former ferocity. Soon all was confusion and carnage. It seemed, indeed, +that nothing but the hearts' blood of the Crusaders would satisfy the +vindictive cravings of their foes; and so utterly dispirited by +adversity and defeat, and pestilence, were knights formerly renowned as +brave among the bravest that they allowed themselves, almost without +resisting, to be slaughtered in heaps. + +Naturally, however, there were striking exceptions; and none were more +remarkable than Chatillon and Bisset; who, when Louis was conducted into +Minieh, took up their post hard by an orange grove, and close to a wall +at the entrance of the narrow street leading to the house into which +Segrines had carried the king. + +Nothing could have exceeded Chatillon's fiery valour. At one moment he +rushed like lightning among the Saracens, scattered them, and cut them +down. Then after reining back to the wall to draw out the arrows and +darts that adhered to his cuirass, he returned to the charge, rising in +his stirrups, and shouting--'Chatillon, knights--Chatillon to the +rescue.' + +Meanwhile Bisset exerted himself with no less courage and prowess. +Scorning his danger, and scorning his foes, he charged among the +Saracens, with shouts of--'Holy Cross, Holy Cross! Down with the pagan +dogs! Down with the slaves of Mahound and Termagaunt!' Nothing could +resist the vehemence of his attack. In vain were all attempts to drag +him from his steed. Before his mighty battle-axe the Saracens seemed to +shake and fall as corn before the reaper. + +At length Chatillon, mortally wounded, dropt from his horse, and the +Saracen who had wounded him springing forward seized the French knight's +steed, which was one sheet of blood and foam. Bisset cleft the Saracen's +skull to the teeth, and laughed defiantly as he avenged the fall of his +comrade-in-arms. + +But Bisset was now alone; and his situation was so utterly desperate, +that any ordinary man, even in that feudal and fighting age, would have +relinquished all hope and yielded to fate. The English knight had no +inclination to do anything of the kind. Rapidly his eye measured the +ground; as rapidly his brain calculated the chances of reaching the +orange grove; and as rapidly he arrived at the conclusion that he could +cut his way through the crowd. No sooner had he settled this than he +wasted not a moment in hesitation. Drawing back towards the wall, and +halting for a moment, with his face to his foes, to breathe his panting +steed, he once more, with battle-axe in hand, charged forward upon his +now recoiling foes, but this time not to return. Nothing daunted by the +darts and arrows that flew around him, he deliberately pursued the +course which his eye had marked out, literally felling to the earth all +who attempted to stop his progress, but skillfully avoiding foes whom it +was not necessary to encounter. Only a man of the highest courage would +have made such an attempt: only a man of the strongest will would have +persevered. + +Now Bisset had both courage and strength of will, and in spite of all +the chances against him, he did reach the orange grove, and making his +way through it as well as he could, found himself in the verge of a wood +of palms and sycamores. But he himself was wounded; his horse was +bleeding in a dozen places; and close behind him were three Saracens, +well mounted, and thirsting for his blood. It may seem to the reader, +that such being the circumstances, Bisset might as well have fallen at +Mansourah or with Walter de Chatillon at the entrance to the narrow +street leading to the house to which the king had been carried. But, +certainly, that was by no means his view of the case; for he was one of +those warriors who never despair; and he turned on his pursuers like a +lion at bay. + +'Surely,' said he, speaking to himself, 'wounded and weary as I am, I +should be but a poor Christian knight if I could not deal with three +pagan dogs.' + +And terrible, even to brave foes, was the ferocity and fury with which +Bisset turned upon the Saracens. Mighty was the force with which he +swung a battle-axe, ponderous enough to have served as a weapon to Coeur +de Lion. Crushed by one swoop of the axe fell the first of the +pursuers--down, as it again swung on high, fell the second, who a moment +earlier was uttering threats of vengeance. But the English knight had no +inclination to encounter the third antagonist. His horse, as he felt, +was sinking; he himself was weakened by loss of blood; and, quick as +thought, he turned towards the wood of palms and sycamores. + +But a new difficulty presented itself. Between Bisset and the wood was a +very deep ditch which at another time would have made him pause. Now, +however, he did not hesitate, even for an instant. He touched his steed +with the spur; he spoke as if imploring the noble animal to make a last +effort; and the result was a gallant bound. But the effort was too much. +In exerting itself to scramble up the opposite bank, the good steed +broke its back; and the knight, freeing his limbs from its corse, +quickly drew his dagger and relieved it from suffering. + +The delay, however, had proved dangerous. Even as he gained one bank of +the ditch the Saracen was at the other, and preparing to launch a +javelin. One moment only intervened between the Crusader and death; but +that moment was not neglected. With his remaining strength Bisset raised +his battle-axe, whirled it with irresistible force, and, as the weapon +whizzed through the air, the Saracen dropped from his horse and rolled +into the ditch, the water of which immediately became red with his +blood. + +Not a moment did Bisset now waste in getting under cover of the wood. +For full five minutes he neither halted nor looked behind. At length he +stopped under a palm tree; and taking out one of those little crosses +which the Crusaders carried with them for purposes of prayer, and which +are now symbolised by figures on the shield of many a Crusader's +descendant, he knelt before it, and invoked the protection and aid of +God and the saints to shield him from danger and restore him to the land +of his fathers. + +But almost ere the prayer was uttered, Bisset started at the sound of +footsteps; and as he turned his head his brain reeled; and, after +grasping at the tree for support, he sank motionless on the ground. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +JOINVILLE IN PERIL. + + +WHILE King Louis and the brave companions of his ill-starred retreat +were seized as captives, or mercilessly massacred by the Saracens at +Minieh, the sick and wounded Crusaders who embarked on the Nile were not +more fortunate. In order to understand the extent of their dangers and +sufferings, it is necessary to refer to the chronicle of the good Lord +of Joinville--who, still suffering from disease, embarked with his +knights and followers, including Guy Muschamp, not yet recovered from +the sickness by which he had been prostrated. + +Nor is it possible to peruse the seneschal's simple narrative without +profound interest. In reading his account of this disastrous expedition, +we are transported, in imagination, to the thirteenth century, and +witness, with the mind's eye, the scenes in which he was an actor, and +gradually come to feel as if we were not reading a chronicle penned +centuries ago, but listening to a Crusader who, just returned from the +East, and seated on the dais of the castle hall, tells his story over +the wine-cup to his kinsmen and neighbours assembled at the festive +board. + +It was evening; and Joinville, who was suffering fearfully from the +prevailing malady, perceiving that everyone was preparing to depart +towards Damietta, withdrew to his galley, with his chaplain, and such of +his company, including Guy Muschamp, as had escaped the pestilence, and +the swords of the Saracens; and no sooner did darkness descend over the +hill, than he commanded his captain to raise the anchor, and float down +the stream. + +'My lord,' replied the man, 'I dare not; for between us and Damietta are +the large galleys of the Saracens, who would infallibly capture us.' + +And at this moment a terrible spectacle arrested Joinville's attention. +It happened that the king's seamen were waiting to take the sick and +wounded on board; but many of the sick and wounded were still in the +camp on the banks of the river. Suddenly, by the light of fires which +the sailors had lighted for the comfort of the sick, Joinville saw the +Saracens enter the camp, and gratify their thirst for blood by a general +massacre. In great alarm, the king's seamen cut their cables; and while +Joinville's men were raising their anchor, the huge galleys came down +upon them with such force, that he expected every moment to be sunk. +However he escaped this danger, and made some way down the Nile. But it +speedily appeared that the Crusaders who had embarked on the river were +not to be more fortunate in their attempt to reach Damietta than were +those who remained on shore. + +Joinville very soon discovered that he had scarcely a chance of escape. +During the night, a tempest arose; and the wind blowing with great +force towards Damietta drove the vessels of the Crusaders straight in +the way of the sultan's fleet, and about break of day they found +themselves close to the galleys of the Saracens. Immediately on +observing the Crusaders approaching, the Saracens raised loud shouts, +and shot large bolts, and threw Greek fire in such quantities, that it +seemed as if the stars were falling from the heavens. + +Great, of course, was the alarm of the Crusaders. Joinville and his +company, however, gained the current, and endeavoured to push forward; +but the wind becoming more and more violent drove them against the +banks, and close to the Saracens, who, having already taken several +vessels, were murdering the crews, and throwing the dead bodies into the +river. + +On seeing what was taking place, and finding that the Saracens began to +shoot bolts at his galley, Joinville, to protect himself, put on his +armour. He had hardly done so, when some of his people began to shout in +great consternation. + +'My lord, my lord,' cried they, 'because the Saracens menace us, our +steersman is going to run us ashore, where we shall all be murdered.' + +At that moment Joinville was so faint that he had seated himself, but +instantly rising he drew his sword and advanced. + +'Beware what you do,' said he; 'for I vow to slay the first person who +attempts to run us ashore.' + +'My lord,' said the captain in a resolute tone, 'it is impossible to +proceed; so you must make up your mind whether you will be landed on +shore, or stranded in the mud of the banks.' + +'Well,' replied Joinville, 'I choose rather to be run on a mud bank than +to be carried ashore, where even now I see our people being +slaughtered.' + +But escape proved impossible. Almost as he spoke, Joinville perceived +four of the sultan's galleys making towards his barge; and, giving +himself up for lost, he took a little casket containing his jewels, and +threw it into the Nile. However, it turned out that, though he could not +save his liberty, there was still a chance of saving his life. + +'My lord,' said the mariner, 'you must permit me to say you are the +king's cousin; if not, we are as good as murdered.' + +'Say what you please,' replied Joinville. + +And now Joinville met with a protector, whose coming he attributed to +the direct interposition of heaven. 'It was God,' says he, 'who then, as +I verily believe, sent to my aid a Saracen, who was a subject of the +Emperor of Germany. He wore a pair of coarse trowsers, and, swimming +straight to me, he came into my vessel and embraced my knees. "My lord," +he said, "if you do not what I shall advise, you are lost. In order to +save yourself, you must leap into the river, without being observed." He +had a cord thrown to me, and I leaped into the river, followed by the +Saracen, who saved me, and conducted me to a galley, wherein were +fourteen score of men, besides those who had boarded my vessel. But this +good Saracen held me fast in his arms.' + +Shortly after, Joinville with the good Saracen's aid was landed, and +the other Saracens rushed on him to cut his throat, and he expected no +better fate. But the Saracen who had saved him would not quit his hold. + +'He is the king's cousin,' shouted he; 'the king's cousin.' + +'I had already,' says Joinville, 'felt the knife at my throat, and cast +myself on my knees; but, by the hands of this good Saracen, God +delivered me from this peril; and I was led to the castle where the +Saracen chiefs had assembled.' + +When Joinville was conducted with some of his company, along with the +spoils of his barge, into the presence of the emirs, they took off his +coat of mail; and perceiving that he was very ill, they, from pity, +threw one of his scarlet coverlids lined with minever over him, and gave +him a white leathern girdle, with which he girded the coverlid round +him, and placed a small cap on his head. Nevertheless, what with his +fright and his malady, he soon began to shake so that his teeth +chattered, and he complained of thirst. + +On this the Saracens gave him some water in a cup; but he no sooner put +it to his lips, than the water began to run back through his nostrils. +'Having an imposthume in my throat,' says he, 'imagine what a wretched +state I was in; and I looked more to death than life.' + +When Joinville's attendants saw the water running through his nostrils, +they began to weep; and the good Saracen who had saved him asked them +why they were so sorrowful. + +'Because,' they replied, 'our lord is nearly dead.' + +And thereupon the good Saracen, taking pity on their distress, ran to +tell the emirs; and one of them coming, told Joinville to be of good +cheer, for he would bring a drink that should cure him in two days. +Under the influence of this beverage, the seneschal ere long recovered; +and when he was well, he was sent for by the admiral, who commanded the +sultan's galleys. + +'Are you,' asked the admiral, 'the king's cousin, as was reported?' + +'No,' answered Joinville, 'I am not;' and he informed the admiral why it +had been stated. + +'You were well advised,' said the admiral; 'for otherwise you would have +been all murdered, and cast into the river. Have you any acquaintance +with the Emperor Frederic, or are you of his lineage?' + +'Truly,' replied Joinville, 'I have heard my mother say that I am the +emperor's second cousin.' + +'Ah,' said the admiral, 'I rejoice to hear it; and I love you all the +better on that account.' + +It appears that Joinville became quite friendly with the admiral, and +was treated by him with kindness; and, on Sunday, when it was ordered +that all the Crusaders who had been taken prisoners on the Nile should +be brought to a castle on the banks, Joinville was invited to go thither +in the admiral's company. On that occasion, the seneschal had to endure +the horror of seeing his chaplain dragged from the hold of his galley +and instantly killed and flung into the water; and scarcely was this +over when the chaplain's clerk was dragged out of the hold, so weak that +he could hardly stand, felled on the head with a mortar, and cast after +his master. In this manner the Saracens dealt with all the captives who +were suffering from sickness. + +Horrorstruck at such a destruction of human life, Joinville, by means of +the good Saracen who had saved his life, informed them that they were +doing very wrong; but they treated the matter lightly. + +'We are only destroying men who are of no use,' said they; 'for they are +much too ill with their disorders to be of any service.' + +Soon after witnessing this harrowing spectacle, Joinville was requested +by the Saracen admiral to mount a palfrey; and they rode together, over +a bridge, to the place where the Crusaders were imprisoned. At the +entrance of a large pavilion the good Saracen, who had been Joinville's +preserver, and had always followed him about, stopped, and requested his +attention. + +'Sir,' said he, 'you must excuse me, but I cannot come further. I +entreat you not to quit the hand of this boy, otherwise the Saracens +will kill him.' + +'Who is he?' asked Joinville. + +'The boy's name,' replied the good Saracen, 'is Bartholomew de Bar, and +he is son of the Lord Montfaucon de Bar.' + +And now conducted by the admiral, and leading the little boy by the +hand, Joinville entered the pavilion, where the nobles and knights of +France, with more than ten thousand persons of inferior rank, were +confined in a court, large in extent, and surrounded by walls of mud. +From this court the captive Christians were led forth, one at a time, +and asked if they would become renegades, yes or no. He who answered +'Yes,' was put aside; but he who answered 'No,' was instantly beheaded. + +Such was the plight of the Christian warriors who so recently had +boasted of being about to conquer Egypt. Already thirty thousand of the +Crusaders had perished; and the survivors were so wretched, that they +almost envied their comrades who had gone where the weary are at rest. + +Now in the midst of all this suffering and anxiety, what had become of +Guy Muschamp? Had the gay young squire, who boasted that if killed by +the Saracens he would die laughing, been drowned in the Nile, or was he +a captive in that large court surrounded by walls of mud? Neither. But +as our narrative proceeds, the reader will see that Guy Muschamp's fate +was hardly less sad than the fate of those who had found a watery grave, +or of those who were offered the simple choice of denying their God or +losing their lives. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +NEWS OF DISASTER. + + +WHILE Louis of France and his nobles and knights were exposed to such +danger at the hands of their enemies, from whom they had no reason to +expect forbearance, Queen Margaret remained at Damietta, with her +ladies, expecting to hear of battles won and fortresses taken. At +length, one morning about sunrise, a strange and heart-rending cry +resounded through the city, and reached the ears of the queen in her +palace. What was it? was it fire? No. Another and another wail of agony. +What could it be? The approach of an enemy? No. It was merely tidings of +the massacre of Minieh! + +Margaret of Provence summoned to her presence Oliver de Thermes, whom +King Louis had left at Damietta in command of the garrison. + +'Sir knight,' said the queen, 'what is all that noise I hear?' + +The warrior hesitated. + +'Speak, sir,' said Margaret, losing patience; 'I command you to tell me +what has happened.' + +'Madam,' replied the knight, 'the news as yet is but vague and +uncertain.' + +'Answer me, directly,' said the queen, speaking in a tone of authority. +'What of the King of France? What of the warriors who marched from +Damietta under the banner of St. Denis?' + +'Alas, madam,' replied Sir Oliver, 'I would fain hope that the news is +not true; but it certainly is bruited about that the king is a captive, +and that the warriors of the Cross have fallen almost to a man.' + +Margaret did not answer; she did not even attempt to speak. Her colour +went, she shuddered, tottered, and would have fallen to the floor had +not her ladies rushed to her support. It was indeed a terrible situation +for that youthful matron, and--what made matters more melancholy--she +was about to become a mother. + +And now Damietta was the scene of consternation somewhat similar to that +which pervaded Cairo, when a pigeon carried thither intelligence of the +victory of the Count of Artois at Djedile. The ladies of the Crusaders, +the Countesses of Poictiers and Provence, and the widowed Countess of +Artois, among the number, bewailed the fate of their lords; the queen +was afflicted to a terrible degree as she thought of the king's peril; +and many people only felt concerned about their own extreme peril. Of +course much selfishness was exhibited under the circumstances; and the +Pisans and Genoese set a bad example by preparing to save themselves, +and leave the city to its fate. But, on hearing of their intention, the +queen ordered that the chief persons among them should be brought to her +presence, and addressed them in a way likely to convince them of the +selfishness of their conduct. + +'Gentlemen,' said Margaret, rousing herself from her prostration and +raising her head; 'as you love God, do not leave this city; for if you +do you will utterly ruin the king and his army, who are captives, and +expose all within the walls to the vengeance of the Saracens.' + +'Madam,' replied the Pisans and Genoese, utterly unmoved by the loyal +lady's distress, 'we have no provisions left, and we cannot consent to +remain at the risk of dying of hunger.' + +'Be under no such apprehension,' said the queen quickly; 'you shall not +die of hunger; I will cause all the provisions in Damietta to be bought +in the king's name, and distributed forthwith.' + +The Pisans and Genoese on hearing this assurance consented to remain in +Damietta; and, after an expenditure of three hundred and sixty thousand +livres, Margaret provided for their subsistence. But the men who were +thus bribed to remain as a garrison were not likely to make any very +formidable resistance in the event of an attack taking place; and such +an event was no longer improbable. Indeed rumours, vague but most +alarming, reached Damietta that a Saracenic host was already on its way +to capture the city. + +The rumour that the Moslems were actually coming made the bravest men in +Damietta quake, and inspired the ladies who were in the city with +absolute terror. Even the courage of the queen, who had just given birth +to her son John, failed; and her faculties well-nigh deserted her. One +moment her imagination conjured up visions of Saracens butchering her +husband; at another she shrieked with terror at the idea that the +Saracens had taken the city and were entering her chamber. Ever and anon +she sank into feverish sleep, and then, wakened by some fearful dream, +sprang up, shouting, 'Help! help! they are at hand. I hear their +lelies.' + +It was while Margaret of Provence was in this unhappy state of mind, +that a French knight, who was eighty years of age, but whose heart, in +spite of his four score of years, still overflowed with chivalry, +undertook the duty of guarding the door of her chamber night and day. + +'Madam,' said he, 'be not alarmed. I am with you. Banish your fears.' + +'Sir knight,' exclaimed the unhappy queen, throwing herself on her knees +before him, 'I have a favour to ask. Promise that you will grant my +request.' + +'I swear, madam, that I will comply with your wishes,' replied the aged +knight. + +'Well, then,' said the queen; 'what I have to request is this, that if +the Saracens should take the city, you, by the faith you have pledged, +will rather cut off my head than suffer me to fall into their hands.' + +'Madam,' replied the veteran chevalier, 'I had already resolved on doing +what you have asked, in case the worst should befall.' + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +A WOUNDED PILGRIM. + + +IT was long ere Walter Espec, struck down wounded and bleeding at +Mansourah, recovered possession of his faculties sufficiently to recall +the scenes through which he had passed or even to understand what was +taking place around him. As time passed over, however, consciousness +returned; and he one day became aware that he was stretched on a bed in +a chamber somewhat luxuriously furnished, and tended by a woman advanced +in years, who wore a gown of russet, and a wimple which gave her a +conventual appearance. + +Walter raised his head, and was about to speak, when she suddenly left +the room, and the squire was left to guess, as he best might, where and +under whose care he was. He attempted to rise; but the effort was in +vain. He put his hand to his head; but he found that his long locks of +fair hair were gone. He tried to remember how he had got there; but, try +as he might, his memory would not bring him farther down the stream of +time, than the hour in which he fell at Mansourah. All the rest was a +blank or a feverish dream of being rowed on a river by Saracen boatmen, +and left at the portal of a house which he had never seen before. +Gradually recalling all his adventures since he left the castle of Wark, +he remembered and felt his hand for the amulet with which he had been +gifted by King Louis when at Cyprus. The ring was there, and as Walter +thought of the inscription he felt something like hope. + +But Walter was still weak from loss of blood and the fever which had +been the consequence of wounds and exposure, and he soon sank into a +slumber. When he again awoke to consciousness the woman in russet was +standing near him, and conversing with a damsel whom Walter did not at +first see, but whose tones, sweet and soft, manifested a strong interest +in his recovery. + +'He will yet live,' said the woman in russet, 'and rejoice we in it; for +he is a young man; and to such life must needs be dear.' + +'He will live,' repeated the girl, 'and our lady be praised therefor; +for it is sweet to live.' + +'In truth, noble demoiselle,' said the woman in russet, 'the youth owes +much to your solicitude; but for your anxiety on his behalf, I hardly +think he would have struggled through the fever. However, if you will +remain and watch him for a brief space, I will attend to the commands of +my lady the queen, and hasten to relieve you. Nay, it misbeseems not +noble maiden to tend a wounded warrior, especially a soldier of the +Cross; and, credit me, he will give you little trouble. He lies as quiet +and calm as if he were in his shroud.' + +With these words the woman in russet departed; and the damsel, treading +so softly that her footstep made not the slightest noise, moved about +the room in silent thought, now turning to gaze on the wounded squire, +now looking from the casement. Walter, now fully awake, began to +experience a strong feeling of curiosity; and turning his head directed +his gaze, not without interest, towards his youthful nurse. She was not +more than sixteen, and still more beautiful than young. She had features +exquisitely lovely in their delicacy and expression, deep blue eyes with +long dark fringes, and dark brown hair which, according to the fashion +of the period, was turned up behind and enclosed in a caul of network. +Her form was already elegant in its proportions; but it inclined to be +taller, and gave promise of great perfection. Her charms were set off by +the mourning dress which she wore, and by the robe called the quintise, +which was an upper tunic without sleeves, with bordered vandyking and +scalloping worked and notched in various patterns, worn so long behind +that it swept the floor, but in front held up gracefully with one hand +so as not to impede the step. + +Walter was charmed, and a little astonished as his eye alighted on a +face and form so fascinating; and, in spite of his prostration and utter +weakness, he gazed on her with lively interest and some wonder. + +'Holy Katherine!' exclaimed he to himself; 'what a lovely vision. I +marvel who she is, and where I am; and, as he thus soliloquised, the +girl turned round, and not without flutter and alarm perceived that he +was awake and watching her. + +'Noble demoiselle, heed me not;' said Walter earnestly, 'but rather +tell me, since, if I understand aright, I owe my life to you--how am I +ever sufficiently to prove my gratitude?' + +'Ah, sir squire,' replied she, 'you err in supposing the debt to be on +your side. It is I who owe you a life, and not you who owe a life to me; +and,' added she, struggling to repress tears, 'my heart fills when I +remember how you did for me, albeit a stranger, what, under the +circumstances, no other being on earth would have ventured to do.' + +'By Holy Katherine, noble demoiselle,' said Walter, wondering at her +words; 'I should in truth deem it a high honour to have rendered such as +you any service. But that is a merit which I cannot claim; for, until +this hour, unless my memory deceives me, I never saw your face.' + +The countenance of the girl evinced disappointment, and the tears +started to her eyes. + +'Ah, sir, sir,' said she, with agitation; 'I am she whom, on the coast +of Cyprus, you saved from the waves of the sea.' + +Walter's heart beat rather quick as he learned that it was Adeline de +Brienne who stood before him; for, though her very face was unknown to +him, her name had strangely mixed up with many of his day-dreams; and it +was not without confusion that, after a pause, he continued the +conversation. + +'Pardon my ignorance, noble demoiselle,' said he, 'and vouchsafe, I pray +you, to inform me where I now am; for I own to you that I am somewhat +perplexed.' + +'You are in Damietta.' + +'In Damietta!' exclaimed Walter, astonished; 'and how came I to +Damietta? My latest recollection is having been struck from my steed at +Mansourah, after my lord, the Earl of Salisbury, and all the English +warriors, had fallen before the weapons of the Saracens; and how I come +to be in Damietta is more than I can guess.' + +'Mayhap; but I can tell you,' said a frank hearty voice; and, as Walter +started at the sound, Bisset, the English knight, stood before him; and +Adeline de Brienne, not without casting a kindly look behind, vanished +from the chamber. + +'Wonder upon wonders,' cried Walter, as the knight took his hand; 'I am +now more bewildered than before. Am I in Damietta, and do I see you, and +in the body?' + +'Even so,' replied Bisset; 'and for both circumstances we are wholly +indebted to Beltran, the Christian renegade. He saved you from perishing +at Mansourah, and conveyed you down the Nile, and brought you to the +portal of this palace; and he came to me when I was at Minieh under a +tree, sinking with fatigue, and in danger of bleeding to death; and he +found the means of conveying me hither also; so I say that, were he ten +times a renegade, he merits our gratitude.' + +'Certes,' said Walter, 'and, methinks, also our prayers that his heart +may be turned from the error of his ways, and that he may return to the +faith which Christians hold.' + +'Amen,' replied Bisset. + +'But tell me, sir knight,' continued Walter, eagerly, what has +happened, since that dreadful day, to the pilgrim army? and if you know +aught of my brother-in-arms, Guy Muschamp?' + +'Sir squire,' answered Bisset, sadly; 'for your first question, I grieve +to say, that has come to pass which I too shrewdly predicted--all the +boasting of the French has ended in disaster--the king and his nobles +being prisoners, and most of the other pilgrims slain or drowned; and, +for your second, as to Guy Muschamp, the English squire, who was a brave +and gallant youth, I own I entertain hardly a doubt that, ere this, he +is food for worms or fishes.' + +Walter Espec uttered an exclamation of horror, and, without another +word, sank back on his pillow. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +ST. LOUIS IN CHAINS. + + +WHEN King Louis was led away by the faithful Segrines, and when he was +so exhausted that he had to be lifted from his steed and carried into a +house, and when the Crusaders outside were in dismay and despair, Philip +de Montfort entered the chamber where the saintly monarch was, and +proposed to renew negotiations with the Saracens. + +'Sire,' said De Montfort, 'I have just seen the emir with whom I +formerly treated; and, so it be your good pleasure, I will seek him out, +and demand a cessation of hostilities.' + +'Go,' replied Louis; 'and, since it can no better be, promise to submit +to the conditions on which the sultan formerly insisted.' + +Accordingly De Montfort went; and the Saracens, still fearing their +foes, and remembering that the French held Damietta, agreed to treat. A +truce was, indeed, on the point of being concluded. Montfort had given +the emir a ring; the emir had taken off his turban, and their hands were +about to meet; when a Frenchman, named Marcel, rushed in and spoiled +all. + +'Seigneurs,' said he, interrupting the conference, 'noble knights of +France, surrender yourselves all! The king commands you by me. Do not +cause him to be put to death.' + +On hearing this message, the emir withdrew his hand, returned De +Montfort's ring, put on his turban, and intimated that the negotiation +was at an end. + +'God is powerful,' said he, 'and it is not customary to treat with +beaten enemies.' + +And now it was that there ensued such a scene as Minieh had never +witnessed. Almost as the negotiation ended, Louis was seized, violently +handled and put in chains. Both the Count of Poictiers and the Count of +Anjou were at the same time made prisoners; and the bulk of the warriors +accompanying the king had scarcely the choice between surrender and +death; for nothing, as has been said, but their hearts' blood would +satisfy the vindictive cravings of their foes; and, when the king's +captivity became known, many of those who had formerly been most +intrepid, remained motionless and incapable of the slightest resistance. + +About the time when King Louis was put in chains, and when Bisset, the +English knight, was endeavouring to escape death or rather captivity, +the sultan arrived at Minieh, and, without any display of generosity for +the vanquished, took measures for improving his victory to the utmost. +The king and his brothers who, like himself, were bound hand and foot, +were conducted in triumph to a boat of war. The oriflamme--that banner +so long the pride of France--was now carried in mockery; the crosses +and images, which the Crusaders had with them as symbols of their +religious faith, were trampled scornfully under foot; and, with trumpets +sounding and kettle-drums clashing, the royal captives were marched into +Mansourah. + +It was to the house of Fakreddin Ben Lokman, the secretary of the +sultan, that Louis was escorted; and, on arriving there, he was given +into the custody of the Eunuch Sahil. But, abandoned by fortune, and in +the power of his enemies, Louis was still himself. In chains and +captivity he exhibited the dignity of a king and the resignation of a +Christian, and his jailers could not refrain from expressing their +astonishment at the serene patience with which he bore adversity. Of all +his property, he had only saved his book of psalms; and daily, while +consoling himself with reciting from its pages, he was inspired with +strength and resolution to bear his misfortunes, and to raise his +thoughts far above the malice of his foes. + +Meanwhile, at the court of the sultan, everything was not going +smoothly. From the beginning, the emirs and Mamelukes had looked with +envy and suspicion on the favourites brought by Touran Chah from +Mesopotamia; and such feelings had not died away. Many of the favourites +ere long were substituted for the ministers of the late sultan; and the +emirs and Mamelukes not only complained loudly of this to Touran Chah, +but reproached him bitterly for the way in which he disposed of the +spoil of the Crusaders. + +'How is this?' asked they; 'you are bestowing the spoils of the +vanquished Franks, not on the men who have borne the burden of the war, +but on men whose sole merit consists in having come from the banks of +the Euphrates to the Nile.' + +Now, the sultan's favourites were not unaware of the unfriendly feeling +with which they were regarded by the Mameluke chiefs. Indeed, they saw +all the dangers of their position, and considered it politic, under the +circumstances, to reduce the influence of the emirs and Mamelukes by +bringing about a treaty with the Crusaders. + +'In these people,' said they to the sultan, 'you have enemies far more +dangerous than the Christians. Nothing will content them but reigning in +your stead. They never cease to boast of their victories, as if they +alone had conquered the Franks, and as if the God of Mahomet had not +sent pestilence and famine to aid you in triumphing. But hasten to +terminate the war, that you may strengthen your power within; and then +you will be able to reign in reality.' + +As soon as Touran Chah was convinced that the emirs and Mamelukes +entertained projects of ambition dangerous to his power, and that war +was favourable to their designs, he resolved to show the chiefs how +little he regarded their opinions; and, without even consulting them, he +sent some of his favourites to the house of Lokman, and empowered them +to treat with Louis. + +'King,' said the ambassador, 'I come from the sultan, to inform you that +he will restore you to liberty, on condition that you surrender to him +the cities of Palestine now held by the Franks.' + +'The cities of Palestine are not mine to give,' replied Louis, calmly; +'and I cannot pretend to dispose of them.' + +'But beware of rashly refusing to submit to the sultan's terms,' said +the ambassador; 'for you know not what may happen. He will send you to +the caliph at Bagdad, who will imprison you for life; or he will cause +you to be led throughout the East, to exhibit to all Asia a Christian +king reduced to slavery.' + +'I am the sultan's prisoner,' replied Louis, unmoved, 'and he can do +with me what he pleases.' + +On hearing this answer, the ambassadors intimated their intention of +employing personal violence; and, one of them having stamped three times +with his foot, the Eunuch Sahil entered, followed by the jailers, +bearing that frightful instrument of torture, known as 'the bernicles.' + +Now this terrible engine was made of pieces of wood pierced with holes, +into which the legs of the criminal were put; and the holes were at so +great a distance from each other, and could be forced to so great an +extension, that the pain was about the most horrible that could be +produced. Moreover, the holes being at various distances, the legs of +the victim could be inserted into those that extended them to the +greatest distance, and while the pain inflicted was more than flesh and +blood could bear, means were, at the same time, used to break or +dislocate all his small bones. It was an instrument of punishment +reserved for the worst of criminals; and no torture was deemed so awful +as that which it was capable of inflicting. + +'What do you say to be put in this engine of punishment?' asked the +ambassador, pointing significantly to the bernicles. + +'I have already told you,' replied Louis, unmoved, 'that I am the +sultan's prisoner, and that he can do with me as he pleases.' + +In fact, the courage of Louis was proof against any danger to his own +person; and he held all the menaces of his captors so cheap, that they +scarcely knew how to deal with him. At length, the sultan determined to +propose terms more likely to be acceptable to the saint-king, and again +sent ambassadors to his prison, with the object of bringing about a +treaty. + +'King,' said the ambassador, 'the sultan has sent to ask how much money +you will give for your ransom, besides restoring Damietta?' + +'In truth,' replied Louis, 'I scarcely know what answer to make; but, if +the sultan will be contented with a reasonable sum, I will write to the +queen to pay it for myself and my army.' + +'But wherefore write to the queen, who is but a woman?' asked the +ambassador somewhat surprised. + +'She is my lady and companion,' answered Louis, even at that moment +mindful of the principles of chivalry; 'and it is only reasonable that +her consent should be obtained.' + +'Well,' said the ambassador, 'if the queen will pay a million golden +bezants, the sultan will set you free.' + +'However,' said Louis, with dignity, 'I must tell you that, as King of +France, I cannot be redeemed by money; but a million of bezants will be +paid as the ransom of my army, and Damietta given up in exchange for my +own freedom.' + +After some negotiations the terms were agreed to; and the sultan not +only concluded the treaty joyfully, but expressed his admiration of the +nobility of spirit which Louis had displayed. + +'By my faith!' said Touran Chah to the ambassador, 'this Frenchman is +generous and noble, seeing that he does not condescend to bargain about +so large a sum of money, but instantly complies with the first demand. +Go,' added the sultan, 'and tell him, from me, that I make him a present +of a fifth of the sum, so that he will only have to pay four-fifths; and +that I will command all the principal nobles and his great officers to +be embarked in four of my largest galleys, and conducted safely to +Damietta.' + +It was Thursday before the Feast of Ascension; and, while the King of +France, and the Crusaders were conveyed down the Nile in galleys, Touran +Chah travelled by land from Mansourah, in order to receive Damietta, and +perform the conditions of peace. On reaching Pharescour, however, the +sultan halted to dine with his chiefs; and, while the other Crusaders +lay in their galleys on the river, the king and his brethren were +invited to land, and received into a pavilion, where they had an +interview with the sultan, when Saturday was appointed for the payment +of the golden bezants and the surrender of Damietta. But long ere +Saturday a terrible tragedy was to occur, and render Pharescour +memorable as the scene of a deed of violence, startling both to Asia and +Europe. Already, while the sultan held his interview with the King of +France and the Counts of Poictiers and Anjou, everything was prepared; +and soon after Touran Chah had left Louis and his brothers shut up in +the pavilion, they were roused by loud shouts of distress and a mighty +tumult; and, while they breathlessly asked each other whether the French +captives were being massacred or Damietta taken by storm, in rushed +twenty Saracens, their swords red and reeking with blood, and spots of +blood on their vestments and their faces, stamping, threatening +furiously, and uttering fierce cries. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE TRAGEDY OF PHARESCOUR. + + +AT Pharescour, on the margin of the Nile, the Sultan of Egypt had a +remarkable palace. It appears to have been constructed of wood, and +covered with cloth of brilliant colours. At the entrance was a pavilion, +where the emirs and chiefs were in the habit of leaving their swords, +when they had audience of the sultan; and beyond this pavilion was a +handsome gateway which led to the great hall where the sultan feasted; +and adjoining the great hall was a tower, by which the sultan ascended +to his private apartments. + +Between the palace and the river was a spacious lawn, in which there was +a tower, to which the sultan was wont to ascend when he wished to make +observations on the surrounding country; and hard by was an alley which +led towards the margin of the hill, and a summer-house formed of +trellis-work and covered with Indian linen, where he frequently repaired +for the purpose of bathing. + +The chroniclers of the period who write of the crusade of St. Louis +fully describe this palace. Indeed, the appearance of the place was +strongly impressed on the memory of the Crusaders. It was there that +Touran Chah, when on his way from Mansourah to Damietta, halted to +receive the congratulations of the Moslem chiefs on the victory that had +been achieved over the Franks; there, in their company, he celebrated +his triumph by a grand banquet; and there was enacted the terrible +tragedy that exposed the surviving pilgrims to new dangers and fresh +trials. + +By this time, indeed, the emirs and Mamelukes had become so exasperated +at the elevation of the sultan's favourite courtiers that they vowed +vengeance; and, in order to justify their project, they ascribed to him +the most sinister designs. It was asserted that many of the emirs were +doomed to die on a certain day; and that, in the midst of a nocturnal +orgy, Touran Chah had cut off the tops of the flambeaux in his chamber, +crying--'Thus shall fly the heads of all the Mamelukes.' In order to +avenge herself for the neglect to which she was exposed under the new +reign, Chegger Edour, the sultana who had played so important a part in +the last days of Melikul Salih, exerted her eloquence to stimulate the +discontent; and the emirs and Mamelukes, having formed a conspiracy, +only awaited a convenient opportunity to complete their projects of +vengeance at a blow. + +It was the day after his arrival at Pharescour, on which Touran Chah +gave a banquet to the chiefs of his army; and, as it happened, the +company comprised the Mamelukes and the emirs who were, or who deemed +themselves, in danger. It would seem that everything went forward +quietly and ceremoniously till the feast was ended, and the sultan rose +to ascend to his chamber. Not a moment, however, was then lost. As soon +as Touran Chah moved from table, Bibars Bendocdar, who carried the +sultan's sword, struck the first blow, and instantly the others rushed +furiously upon their destined victim. Touran Chah parried the blow of +the Mameluke chief with his hand; but the weapon penetrated between two +of his fingers and cut up his arm. + +'My lords,' said he, taken by surprise; 'I make my complaint against +this man, who has endeavoured to kill me.' + +'Better that you should be slain than live to murder us, as you intend +to do,' cried all present, with the exception of an envoy of the caliph, +who had arrived from Bagdad, and appeared much terrified at the scene so +suddenly presented. + +Touran Chah looked round him in amazement; and, as he did so, he was +seized with terror. However, the instinct of self-preservation did not +desert him. With a spring he bounded between the motionless guards, +escaped into the lawn, took refuge in the tower, and looking from a +window demanded of the conspirators what they really wanted; but they +were not in a humour to spend time in talk. + +'Come down,' cried they; 'you cannot escape us.' + +'Assure me of safety, and I will willingly descend,' said the sultan. + +At this stage the envoy of the caliph, having mounted his horse, came +forward as if to interfere; but the conspirators menaced him with +instant death if he did not return to his tent, and, still keenly bent +on completing their work of murder, ordered the sultan to come down. + +Touran Chah shook his head, as if declining the invitation. + +'Fool,' cried the conspirators, scornfully, 'we have the means of +compelling you to descend, or to meet a worse fate;' and without further +parley they commenced assailing the tower with Greek fire. + +The Greek fire caught the cloth and timber, and immediately the whole +was in a blaze. Touran Chah could no longer hesitate. One hope remained +to him, namely to rush towards the Nile, to throw himself into the +water, and to take refuge on board one of the vessels that he saw +anchored near the shore. Accordingly he leaped from the blazing tower, +with the intention of rushing across the lawn. But the toils were upon +him. A nail having caught his mantle, he, after remaining for a moment +suspended, fell to the ground. Instantly sabres and swords waved over +him; and he clung in a supplicating posture to Octai, one of the +captains of his guard; but Octai repulsed him with contempt. +Nevertheless, the conspirators hesitated; and they were still +hesitating, when Bibars Bendocdar, who was never troubled either with +fears or scruples, and who, indeed, had struck the first blow, made a +thrust so stern that the sword remained sticking fast between the ribs +of the victim. Still resisting, however, the sultan contrived to drag +himself to the Nile, with a hope of reaching the galleys from which the +captive Crusaders witnessed the outrage; but some of the Mamelukes +followed him into the water; and close to the galley in which the Lord +of Joinville was, the heir of Saladin--the last of the Eioubites--died +miserably. + +It was now that the Mamelukes rushed into the tent where Louis and his +brothers were. + +'King,' cried Octai, pointing to his bloody sword, 'Touran Chah is no +more. What will you give me for having freed you from an enemy who +meditated your destruction as well as ours?' + +Louis vouchsafed no reply. + +'What!' cried the emir, furiously presenting the point of his sword; +'know you not that I am master of your person? Make me a knight, or thou +art a dead man.' + +'Make thyself a Christian, and I will make thee a knight,' said Louis, +calmly. + +Rather cowed than otherwise with his reception, and with the demeanour +of the royal captive, Octai retired; and the French king and his +brothers once more breathed with as much freedom as men could under the +circumstances. But they were not long left undisturbed. Scarcely had the +Mameluke aspirant for knighthood disappeared when the tent was crowded +with Saracens, who brandished their sabres and threatened Louis with +destruction. + +'Frenchman!' cried they, addressing the king, wildly and fiercely; 'art +thou ignorant of thy danger, or what may be the fate that awaits thee? +Pharescour is not Mansourah, as events may convince thee yet. Here thou +mayest find a tomb instead of the house of Lokman, and the two terrible +angels, Munkir and Nakir, instead of the Eunuch Sahil.' + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +PERILS AND SUSPENSE. + + +THE Saracen chiefs, after having dyed their sabres in the blood of the +sultan, did not confine their menaces and violent demonstrations to the +tent in which the captive King of France was lodged. With swords drawn +and battle-axes on their shoulders, thirty of them boarded the galley +where Joinville was with the Count of Brittany, Sir Baldwin d'Ebelin, +and the Constable of Cyprus, and menaced them with gestures and furious +imprecations. + +'I asked Sir Baldwin d'Ebelin,' writes Joinville, 'what they were +saying; and he, understanding Saracenic, replied that they were come to +cut off our heads, and shortly after I saw a large body of our men on +board confessing themselves to a monk of La Trinite, who had accompanied +the Count of Flanders. I no longer thought of any sin or evil I had +done, but that I was about to receive my death. In consequence, I fell +on my knees at the feet of one of them, and making the sign of the +cross, said "Thus died St. Agnes." The Constable of Cyprus knelt beside +me, and confessed himself to me, and I gave him such absolution as god +was pleased to grant me the power of bestowing. But of all the things +he had said to me, when I rose up I could not remember one of them.' + +'We were confined in the hold of the galleys,' continues the chronicler, +'and laid heads and heels together. We thought it had been so ordered +because they were afraid of attacking us in a body, and that they would +destroy us one at a time. This danger lasted the whole night. I had my +feet right on the face of the Count of Brittany, whose feet, in return, +were beside my face. On the morrow we were taken out of the hold, and +the emirs sent to inform us that we might renew the treaties we had made +with the sultan.' + +'So far, all seemed well. But the danger was not yet over, as the +Crusaders were destined to feel. At first the form of the oaths to be +taken by the king and the emirs presented much difficulty; and, even +when it was settled, the emirs in council gravely discussed the +propriety of putting the French king and his barons to death. Only one +of them pleaded for keeping faith; and his voice would have been drowned +in the clamour, but fortunately he used an argument which appealed +irresistibly to their cupidity.' + +'You may put these Franks to death if you will,' said he; 'but reflect +ere doing so that dead men pay no ransom.' + +Nevertheless, it really seemed that after all the Crusaders were doomed; +and while they were on board the galleys, and this discussion was +proceeding, an incident occurred which caused them to give themselves up +for lost. + +'One of the emirs that were against us,' says Joinville, 'threatening we +were to be slain, came to the bank of the river, and shouted out in +Saracen to those who were on board our galley, and, taking off his +turban, made signs, and told them they were to carry us back to Babylon. +The anchors were instantly raised, and we were carried a good league up +the river. This caused great grief to all of us, and many tears fell +from our eyes, for we now expected nothing but death.' + +And what in the meantime was taking place in Damietta? + +Nothing in truth could have exceeded the anxiety which prevailed within +the walls of that city, when thither were carried tidings of the +assassination of the Sultan of Egypt, and of the new danger to which the +King of France and the captive Crusaders were exposed. + +The aspect of affairs was indeed menacing; and it was not till +messengers from King Louis came to announce that the treaty was to be +maintained and the city evacuated, that something like confidence was +restored. On the evening of Friday, Queen Margaret, with the Countesses +of Anjou, Poictiers, and Artois, and the other ladies, went on board a +Genoese vessel. As night advanced, Oliver de Thermes and all the +Crusaders who had garrisoned Damietta embarked on the Nile, and Geoffrey +de Segrines, having brought the keys to the emirs, the Saracens took +possession. Next morning at daybreak the Moslem standards were floating +over tower and turret. But still King Louis was in the hands of his +enemies, and still the emirs were debating whether or not they ought to +put him and the companions of his captivity to death. + +At the mouth of the Nile, a Genoese galley awaited the king; and, while +every eye was strained towards the shore with an anxiety which was not +without cause, Walter Espec and Bisset, the English knight, stood on +deck in no enviable frame of mind. + +'I mislike all this delay,' said Walter, more agitated than he was wont +to appear. 'What if, after all, these emirs should prove false to their +covenant?' + +'In truth,' replied Bisset, 'it would not amaze me so much as many +things that have come to pass of late; and both the king and his nobles +may yet find to their cost that their hopes of freedom are dashed; for +we all know the truth of the proverb as to there being so much between +the cup and the lip.' + +At this moment they observed the galleys, on board of which Joinville +and other captive Crusaders were, move up the Nile, and each uttered an +exclamation of horror. + +'Now may Holy Katherine be our aid,' cried Walter, 'for our worst +anticipations are like to be realised.' + +'The saints forbid,' replied Bisset; 'and yet I am not so hopeful as I +might be, for I have long since learned not to holloa till out of the +wood.' + +It was indeed a critical moment for Louis and his nobles; but in the +council of the emirs the milder views ultimately prevailed, and Bisset +and Walter Espec observed with delight that the galleys which had moved +up the Nile were brought back towards Damietta, and that Louis, +attended by a multitude of Saracens who watched his movements in +silence, was approaching. Immediately the Genoese galley moved towards +the shore, and Louis, having been joined by the Count of Anjou and the +Lord of Joinville, stepped on board, while the other knights and nobles +hastened to embark in the vessels that lay in wait for them. As soon as +the king was on board, Bisset made a signal; and, as he did so, eighty +archers with their crossbows strung appeared on deck so suddenly that +the crowd of Saracens who had been pressing forward immediately +dispersed in alarm, and the galley moved from the shore. Ere long, the +Count of Poictiers, who had remained as a hostage in Damietta till the +ransom of the Crusaders was paid, came on board; and, all being now in +readiness for leaving the place where he had experienced so many +misfortunes and so much misery, the saint-king made a sign to the +mariners, the sails were given to the wind, and the fleet of the armed +pilgrims--the wreck of a brilliant army--glided away towards Syria. But +thousands of the survivors still remained in captivity, and, albeit +Louis was conscientiously bent on ransoming them, their prospect was +gloomy, and the thought of their unhappy plight clouded the saint-king's +brow. + +And sad was the heart of Walter Espec, as he recalled the day when he +landed at Damietta side by side with Guy Muschamp; and for the hundredth +time asked himself mournfully whether his brother-in-arms had died for +his faith, or whether a worse fate had befallen him. + +But why linger on the Egyptian shore amid scenes suggestive of +reminiscences so melancholy and so dismal--reminiscences of misfortunes +and calamities and losses not to be repaired? Let us on to the Syrian +coast, and gladden our eyes with a sight of the white walls of Acre, +washed by the blue waters of the Mediterranean. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +ACRE. + + +AT the time when King Louis, sad but unsubdued, left Damietta and +steered for the Syrian coast, Acre, situated on a promontory at the foot +of Mount Carmel and washed by the blue waters of the Mediterranean, was +a place of great strength, and renowned throughout Christendom for +riches and splendour. For a long period previous to its destruction by +the Mameluke Sultan--indeed, from the time of the seizure of Jerusalem +by Saladin the Great--Acre was regarded as of higher importance than any +city in the Christian kingdom of which Jerusalem had been the +metropolis; and thither, when driven from other towns which they had +called their own in the days of Godfrey and the Baldwins, most of the +Christians carried such wealth as they could save from the grasp of +sultans and emirs. Acre had, in fact, come to be regarded as the capital +of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and by far the finest of the cities in +Syria. + +Naturally enough, a capital so wealthy was rather tempting to men bent +on conquest. But Acre had the advantage of being strongly fortified. On +the land side it was surrounded by a double wall, with towers and +battlements, and a broad and deep ditch, which prevented access to its +ramparts, and towards the sea by a fortress at the entrance of the +harbour, by the castle of the Templars, and by a stronghold known as +'The King's Tower;' and on the whole, the fortifications were such that +no foe, not even such as Bibars Bendocdar, could have calculated on +finding the place an easy prey. + +Nor could the aspect of the city seem otherwise than strange and +picturesque to such of the armed pilgrims as landed with the saint-king +beneath its white walls, washed by the blue waters of the Mediterranean. +The interior was chiefly occupied by the houses of traders and artisans; +but, between the two ramparts that defended the city on the east, stood +the castles and palaces of the King of Cyprus, the Prince of Antioch, +the representatives of France and Germany, and other men of high rank. +The houses were built of square stones, all rising to an equal height; +and most of them were surrounded with a terrace; and inside they were +luxurious and resplendent, and lighted with windows of painted glass, +which modified the glare of the oriental sun. Even the greatest kings in +Europe could boast of nothing to compare with the pictures and marbles +and rich furniture which the mansions of the magnates of Acre presented +to the eyes of the weary and desponding Crusaders. + +And Acre was not without busy life and striking ceremonies to give +variety to the scene. The port was crowded with ships from Europe and +Asia; the warehouses were stored with merchandise; the market-place was +lively with bustle and excitement; monks, sailors, pirates, pilgrims, +merchants, and warriors appeared in the streets; the squares and public +places were screened from the heat by silken coverings; and there on +certain days the magnates of the city, wearing golden crowns and +vestments glittering with precious stones, walked to show themselves to +the people, attended by splendid trains composed of men varying in +language and manners, but unfortunately separated by jealousies and +rivalries that frequently led to riot and bloodshed. + +Around Acre, the country was fertile and fair to the eye of the gazer. +Outside the walls were beautiful gardens where the citizens were wont to +repair for recreation; and farther away groves and pleasure houses, and +scattered villages and orchards, gave variety to the landscape. + +Such was Acre when King Louis landed there with his queen and the +remains of his once brilliant army; and when Walter Espec, penniless and +pensive, but still hoping to hear tidings of his lost brother, leapt +ashore with Bisset the English knight, and returned thanks to heaven for +having escaped from the power of the Saracens and the perils of the sea. + +'Sir knight,' said Walter, who was in a desponding mood, 'we have now, +thanks be to God reached a place of safety; and yet, beshrew me if my +heart does not fail me; for we are in a strange land, without money, +without horses, almost without raiment befitting our rank.' + +'In truth,' replied the knight, 'I own that our plight is not enviable. +But it is not desperate. Still I am in the service of King Louis, and +have claims which he cannot disregard; and, credit me, a king's name is +a tower of strength. As for you, for lack of a more potent protector, +attach yourself to me as squire, and we can struggle together against +adverse fortune. So droop not, but take courage, my brave Englishman; +and we will, with the aid of God and our lady, so contrive to make the +best of our circumstances as to turn matters to our advantage.' + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +A RESCUE. + + +WALTER Espec, albeit since leaving England he had enacted the part of +squire to two of the foremost earls in Christendom, was too much in need +of a protector not to accept Bisset's offer with gratitude; and the +English knight exercised his influence with such effect that both of +them were soon provided with horses and raiment befitting their rank, +and made a creditable figure among the Crusaders who thronged Acre. +Indeed Walter, having now quite recovered from his illness, attracted +much notice, and won the reputation of being one of the handsomest +Englishmen who had ever appeared in the Syrian city. + +Nevertheless, Walter was gloomy and despondent. All his enquiries after +Osbert, his lost brother, resulted in disappointment. Guy Muschamp he +regarded as one to be numbered with the dead; and Adeline de Brienne, +who since their unexpected meeting at Damietta, where in days of dismay +and danger they had conversed on equal terms, was now, as the +grand-daughter of a King of Jerusalem, treated as a princess, and moved +in too high a sphere to be approached by a simple squire. At first he +was astonished to find that they were separated by so wide a gulf, and +the Espec pride made him almost disdainful. Still, the fair demoiselle +was present in all his visions by day and his dreams by night; and while +consoling himself with building castles in the air when he was to reside +in baronial state with her as his 'lady and companion,' he was under the +necessity of contenting himself in the meantime with worshipping at a +distance, as an Indian pays homage to his star. Ere long, however, +fortune, which had ever been friendly to Walter, gave him an opportunity +of acquiring a new claim on Adeline's gratitude. + +It was about St. John the Baptist's day, in the year 1251, and the King +of France, having undertaken an expedition against the Saracens, was at +Joppa, while the queen and the ladies of the Crusade remained at Acre, +which was garrisoned by a large body of infantry under the command of +the Constable of Jerusalem, and a small party of cavalry under Bisset, +whose courage and prowess still, in spite of his recklessness, made him +a favourite with the royal saint. No danger, however, appeared to +threaten the city. The citizens were occupying themselves as usual; and +some of the ladies had gone to walk in the gardens outside the gate, +when suddenly a body of Saracens, who had marched from Joppa, presented +themselves before the walls, and sent to inform the constable that if he +did not give them fifty thousand bezants by way of tribute, they would +destroy the gardens. The threat was alarming, but the constable replied +that he would give them nothing; and having sent a young knight of Genoa +to order them off, he left the city and marched to the mount, where was +the churchyard of St. Nicholas, to defend the gardens; while bowmen +posted between them and the town kept up a brisk discharge of arrows, +and Bisset at the head of a band of horsemen, attended by Walter Espec, +charged forward and skirmished with the Saracens so as to retard their +approach. Nevertheless, the Saracens continued to advance, and the +Christian magnates who had been walking in the squares came to the +battlements, and with anxiety on their faces watched the feats of arms +that were performed, and especially those wrought by the young knight of +Genoa. + +Meanwhile Bisset and Walter Espec, while skirmishing with the Saracens, +skirted their lines and made a circuit of the garden with the object of +defending a gate by which it was feared an entrance might be effected. +And in truth they found they had come too late to prevent the evil that +was apprehended. Just as they approached their ears were hailed with +loud cries of 'Help! help!' and to their horror they perceived that ten +or twelve Saracens, well mounted, were issuing from the garden, one of +whom was forcibly carrying off a lady without regard to her screams or +her struggles. + +'In the name of wonder!' said Bisset, staring in amaze, 'what is this I +see?' + +'By Holy Katherine!' exclaimed Walter wildly, 'the pagan dogs are +carrying off a lady, and she is no other than Adeline de Brienne. To the +rescue, sir knight! to the rescue!' + +'Hold,' cried Bisset, 'or you will ruin all. See you not that their +horses are swifter than ours, and we must go cunningly to work? +Patience, Walter, patience. We must make a circuit and intercept them, +without their being aware that we are in pursuit.' + +Walter's blood boiled; his head seemed about to turn; and, in spite of +the knight's admonition, he could hardly restrain his impetuosity as he +saw the Saracens making off with their prize. Bisset, however, was calm, +but, as usual, resolute; and it was not till he had posted part of his +cavalry at the gate to prevent further intrusions that, at the head of +half-a-dozen horsemen, he deliberately went in pursuit, and in such a +direction that the Saracens had no suspicions that they were pursued. +Indeed, they deemed themselves so secure that they gradually slackened +their pace, and at length halted while two of their number rode back to +ascertain the result of the combat that was taking place before Acre. + +And what was the state of affairs before the city? + +'As the Genoese knight was retiring with his body of infantry,' says +Joinville, 'a Saracen suddenly moved by his courage came boldly up to +him, and said in his Saracenic tongue that if he pleased he would tilt +with him. The knight answered with pride that he would receive him; but, +when he was on the point of beginning his course, he perceived on his +left hand eight or nine Saracens, who had halted there to see the event +of the tournament. The knight, therefore, instead of directing his +course towards the Saracen who had offered to tilt with him, made for +this troop, and, striking one of them with his lance, pierced his body +through and killed him on the spot. He then retreated to our men, +pursued by the other Saracens, one of whom gave him a heavy blow on his +helmet with a battle-axe. In return, the knight struck the Saracen so +severely on the head that he made his turban fly off. Another Saracen +thought to give the knight a mortal blow with his Turkish blade, but he +twisted his body in such wise that it missed him, and the knight, by a +back-hand blow on the Saracen's arm, made his sword fall to the ground, +and then made a good retreat with the infantry. These three famous +actions did the Genoese knight perform in the presence of the constable, +and before all the principal persons of the town who were assembled on +the battlements.' + +Nevertheless, the Saracens advanced with 'fierce faces threatening war,' +when suddenly a band of those military monks who at the cry of battle +armed 'with faith within and steel without,' and long white mantles over +their chain mail, spurred with lances erect from the Castle of St. +Katherine near the gate of St. Anthony, and, interposing between the +Saracens and the city, formed a barrier that seemed impenetrable. They +were the knights of the Order of St. Katherine of Mount Sinai, an Order +instituted in honour of that saint in 1063, and bearing on their snowy +mantles the instruments by which she suffered martyrdom--the half were +armed with spikes and traversed by a sword stained with blood. + +The Saracens halted in surprise at the sight of the Knights of St. +Katherine, who were supposed at the time to be at the Castle of Kakhow; +and, as if to provoke a conflict that they might have the satisfaction +of conquering, one of the warrior monks, who seemed very young, at a +signal from the marshal of the Order left his companions, and spurring +gallantly forward, with marvellous skill unhorsed two of the Saracens +without breaking his lance. On this, the leader of the Saracens, +perceiving that the knight was alone, rode forward to meet him; but the +youth charged him so fiercely that he was fain to retreat desperately +wounded, and then returned leisurely to his comrades. + +After some hesitation the Saracens withdrew, and the Knights of St. +Katherine rode calmly back to their castle. + +And now let us follow Bisset and Walter Espec. + +About the distance of a league from Acre is a place which was then known +as Passe-Poulain, where, shaded by foliage, were many beautiful springs +of water, with which the sugar-canes were irrigated. It was at +Passe-Poulain that the Saracens who carried off Adeline de Brienne +halted to await the report of their comrades, and, little thinking of +their danger, dismounted to quench their thirst and rest their steeds; +the Saracen who had charge of the damsel alone remaining on horseback, +and tenaciously keeping hold of his prize. + +Suddenly all of them started in surprise; for one of the horses raised +his head and neighed; and the Saracens had scarcely ceased their +conversation and begun to listen, when, with loud shouts of 'Holy +cross!' Bisset and his riders emerged from the foliage and dashed in +amongst them. Resistance was vain, but the Saracens turned to bay, and a +bloody fray, in which Bisset's axe did terrible execution, was the +consequence. Only one attempted to escape,--he who had before him on his +saddle the almost lifeless form of Adeline de Brienne; and after him +Walter Espec, his sword drawn and his spur in his horse's flank, rode +with furious shouts. + +[Illustration: "Be of good cheer, noble Demoiselle," said Walter, "you +are saved."--p. 220.] + +It was a keen chase, both flyer and pursuer urging their steeds to the +utmost; and under ordinary circumstances the Saracen would have escaped; +but, hampered with his burden, and unable to exert his equestrian skill, +he soon found that his pursuer was gaining on him rapidly, and turned to +take the chance of an encounter. Fearful of hurting the damsel, but +perceiving that even this must be hazarded, Walter met him in full +course; and, exercising all his art in arms to elude a blow fiercely +aimed at him, he dealt one on the Saracen's turban, which stretched the +eastern warrior lifeless on the ground, and then leaping from his steed, +quick as thought caught the form of the half-fainting maiden just as she +was falling. + +'Be of good cheer, noble demoiselle,' said Walter. 'You are saved.' + +But Adeline de Brienne did not reply. She had fainted; and Walter, +taking her in his strong arms, bore her tenderly to one of the springs +of water, and was gradually bringing her back to consciousness when +Bisset and his riders, having routed the other Saracens, came up in +doubt as to the issue of the chase. Having succeeded in restoring the +damsel, they placed her on Walter's steed, and, the squire leading her +rein, conducted her to Acre. + +'On my faith, sir squire,' said Bisset with a smile of peculiar +significance, as Walter unbuckled his armour, 'I marvel at your good +fortune in regard to the noble demoiselle, and perceive that I was right +in saying that you had been born with luck on your side. A few more such +exploits, and you will be known to fame.' + +'At all events, sir knight,' replied Walter, trying not to appear too +much elated, 'we can lay ourselves down to rest to-night with all the +better conscience that we have this day performed an action worthy of +minstrels' praise.' + +'Marry,' exclaimed Bisset seriously, 'I look to deriving from this +adventure some benefit more substantial than a sound sleep or minstrels' +flattery; and, to speak truth, I am somewhat weary of this saint-king +and this purposeless Crusade, and would fain go to aid the Emperor of +Constantinople against the Greeks and the Turks; and Baldwin de +Courtenay could not but accord a favourable reception to warriors who +had saved his kinswoman from the Saracens. What thinkest thou of a +movement to Constantinople?' + +Walter mused, but did not answer. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +MISSION TO BAGDAD. + + +AFTER the assassination of Touran Chah at Pharescour, the Mamelukes were +very much at a loss on whom to bestow the crown so long worn by the +chiefs of this family of Saladin. In their perplexity they elevated +Chegger Edour to the throne, and proclaimed her 'Queen of the +Mussulmen.' But the affairs of the sultana did not go smoothly. Moslems +were aroused at the elevation of a woman to sovereignty; and the Caliph +of Bagdad, when asked to send the rich robe which the caliphs were in +the habit of sending by way of investiture to the Sultans of Egypt, +demanded with indignation if a man capable of reigning could no longer +be found. Every day the confusion increased and the troubles multiplied. + +In order to make matters more pleasant, the sultana associated a +Mameluke named Turcoman with her in the government, and even +condescended so far as to unite herself with him in marriage. But the +aspect of affairs became gradually more alarming, and Chegger Edour, +yielding to the prevailing discontent, abdicated in favour of her +husband. Turcoman, however, found that his crown was somewhat thorny; +and at a critical period he aroused the jealousy of his wife by aspiring +to wed an oriental princess. + +The sultana vowed vengeance, and hastened to execute it by causing +Turcoman to be assassinated in his bath. One night an emir, hastily +summoned to the palace, found Chegger Edour seated on a couch with her +feet resting on the dead body of her husband. The emir uttered an +exclamation of horror; but she calmly stated that she had sent for him +to offer her hand and her crown. The emir fled in terror, and next day +the mother of the murdered man had the sultana put to death by her +slaves, and caused her corpse to be thrown into a ditch. + +A Mameluke named Koutouz was now elevated to the throne, and signalised +himself by a victory over the Moguls or Tartars, hordes of wandering +warriors who were now making themselves terrible both to Europe and +Asia. Unfortunately for Koutouz, however, he at that time renewed a +truce with the Christians of Syria, and raised the anger of his soldiers +to such a height that his death was decreed. Accordingly, one day, when +he had ridden out from Sallhie to hunt, a Mameluke chief suddenly +spurred into the camp, his garments stained with blood. + +'I have slain the sultan,' said he. + +'Well, then, reign in his stead,' replied the bystanders. + +The Mameluke chief was Bibars Bendocdar; and, having been proclaimed as +successor to the man he had murdered, he ascended the throne, and, as +sultan of Egypt and Syria, began to govern with despotic power. + +Meanwhile, Louis was anxious to redeem from captivity the Crusaders who +had been left in Egypt, and sent ambassadors to Cairo with the money +that had been agreed on as their ransom. But the ambassadors could +hardly get a hearing. At length they did obtain the release of four +hundred of the Christian prisoners, most of whom had paid their own +ransom; but when they pressed for the liberation of the others, they +were plainly told that the King of France might deem himself fortunate +that he had regained his own liberty; and that if he gave more trouble, +he might expect the Mamelukes to besiege him at Acre. On hearing this +Louis was much perplexed, and consulted his nobles, especially the Lord +of Joinville. + +'Sire,' said Joinville, after some consideration, 'this is a serious +question, and one not to be hastily disposed of; for I remember that +when I was on the eve of leaving home, my cousin, the Seigneur de +Bollaincourt, said to me, "Now you are going beyond the seas, but take +care how you return; no knight, either rich or poor, can come back +without shame, if he leaves behind him, in the hands of the Saracens, +any of the common people who leave home in his company." Now,' added the +seneschal, 'these unhappy captives were in the service of the king, as +well as the service of God, and never can they escape from captivity if +the king should abandon them.' + +On hearing this Louis was more perplexed than ever. In his anxiety, +however, he bethought him of the caliph, and resolved, great as was the +distance, to send ambassadors to Bagdad, where reigned Musteazem the +Miser, the thirty-seventh of his dynasty. + +Now, albeit Moslems were in the habit of paying great reverence to the +caliph as the successor of Mahomet, he exercised very little substantial +power over the fierce warriors who fought for Islamism. Nor, indeed, had +the history of the caliphate been such as to add to the sacredness of +the office, or to increase the superstitious veneration with which it +was regarded. For several centuries, the East witnessed the spectacle of +rival caliphs, both professing to be the representatives of the prophet, +and each claiming all the privileges attaching to the character. The +rivals were known as the Fatimites and the Abassides. The Fatimites +claimed the caliphate as being the heirs of Ali, Mahomet's son-in-law, +and established their throne at Cairo. The Abassides, who were Mahomet's +male heirs, maintained their state at Bagdad. At length, in 1170, the +struggle for supremacy was terminated by Saladin the Great, who killed +the Caliph of Cairo with his mace, and rendered the Caliph of Bagdad +undisputed chief of all Moslems; and, from that time, the Abassides, +though sunk in effeminacy, and much given to sensual indulgences, +continued to exercise their vague privileges and their shadowy +authority. + +Nevertheless, King Louis, bent on obtaining the relief of the captive +Crusaders, despatched ambassadors to Bagdad to treat with the caliph. +The ambassadors were a Templar, and Bisset the English knight; and with +them, in their train, went Walter Espec, now, at length, hopeful of +ascertaining something about his brother's fate. + +It was not without encountering considerable danger, and having to +endure much fatigue, that the Templar and the English knight, under the +guidance of Beltran the renegade, who had opportunely appeared at Acre, +and whom Bisset had pressed into the service, traversed the country; +and, after many days' travel, drew nigh to the capital of the caliphate, +which had been built, in the eighth century, by Al Mansour, one of the +Abasside caliphs, out of the ruins of Ctesiphon, and afterwards enlarged +and adorned by Haroun Alraschid, the great caliph of his dynasty. + +But the journey had not been without its novelty and excitement; and +Walter Espec was riding by the side of Beltran the renegade, towards +whom, in spite of his prejudices as a Crusader, he felt the gratitude +due to a man who had saved his life, when he was cut down at Mansourah. +At present he was much interested with the account given by the renegade +of the ostriches or camel-birds, and eager to learn how they were +hunted. + +'And so, good Beltran,' said he, 'you have actually hunted this bird, +whose height is gigantic, whose cry at a distance resembles the lion's, +and which is to be found in parched and desolate tracts, deserted even +by antelopes and beasts of prey.' + +'In truth have I,' replied Beltran. + +'I envy you,' said Walter; 'nothing would please me more than such an +enterprise.' + +'Nevertheless,' rejoined the renegade, 'it is somewhat irksome, and +requires much patience. But the Arabs have a proverb, that patience is +the price that must be paid for all success, and act accordingly. They +have horses trained for the purpose; and, when they first start the +ostrich, they go off at an easy gallop, so as to keep the bird in view, +without going so near as to alarm it. On discovering that it is pursued, +the ostrich begins to move away, gently at first, but gradually +increasing its speed, running with wings extended, as if flying, and +keeps doubling. It generally takes two days to run one down; but the +hunter gets the best of the race at last; and, when the ostrich finds +itself exhausted and beaten, it buries its head in the sand; and the +hunters, coming up, kill it with their clubs, taking care not to spoil +the feathers.' + +'On my faith,' said Walter, 'I do own that such a pursuit would be +irksome; and I hardly think that my patience would brook so much delay.' + +'However,' said Beltran, suddenly raising his hand and pointing forward, +'there lies before you the city of the caliph.' + +Bagdad, as the reader may be aware, is situated on the Tigris, at the +distance of two hundred miles above the junction of that river with the +Euphrates, and the Tigris is here about six hundred feet in breadth. The +city, which is of an oblong shape, and of which the streets are so +narrow that not more than two horsemen can ride abreast, is surrounded +with a high wall, flanked with towers, some of an immense size, built by +the early caliphs; and several old buildings remain to attest its +ancient magnificence--such as the Gate of the Talisman, a lofty +minaret, built in 785; the tomb of Zobeida, the most beloved of the +wives of Haroun Alraschid; and the famous Madressa College, founded in +1233 by the Caliph Mustenatser. + +No traces, however, are left of the palace so long inhabited by the +caliphs; nor does anything mark the place where, though its glory was +about to depart, it still stood in all its pride, with the black banner +of the Abassides floating over its portals, when the ambassadors of St. +Louis reached Bagdad, and craved an audience of the heir of the prophet. +It was a sight to impress even men accustomed to the wealth and +splendour of Acre; and they thanked God for having conducted them in +safety to a place where there was a prospect of food and rest. + +But Walter Espec was not thinking of such things; his whole mind was +occupied with the question, whether or not his lost brother was a +captive within these walls. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +THE LAST OF THE CALIPHS. + + +ASTONISHED as the Caliph Musteazem might be at the audacity which +prompted a Frankish king to send ambassadors to the heir of the prophet, +he did not venture to decline receiving the message of a prince who so +recently had threatened the empire of Egypt with destruction, and might +have the power of doing so again. Besides, Musteazem was not in the most +celestial humour with the Mamelukes, who seemed inclined to defy his and +every other person's authority; and, on hearing that the result of all +the disorders and revolutions had been the elevation of Bibars Bendocdar +to the throne of Saladin, he remarked, in homely oriental phrase, 'when +the pot boils, the scum rises to the top.' Above all, Musteazem was a +miser, and covetous to the last degree; and when it was explained to him +by his grand vizier, whom the Templar had already bribed with a purse of +gold, that the King of France was liberal in money matters, and was +ready to pay handsomely for the ransom of his captive countrymen, the +caliph's ruling passion prevailed--his avarice got the better of his +dignity; and, without farther words, he consented to grant an audience +to the Franks. + +Meanwhile, the ambassadors and their attendants were admitted within the +gates of the palace, and conducted into an immense garden, there to wait +till suitable apartments were assigned them. And this garden made them +stare with wonder; its regal magnificence was so surprising as to make +them start and stop simultaneously, and to make Bisset exclaim-- + +'Of a truth, the lines of this pope of the infidels have fallen in +pleasant places. None of King Henry's palaces can boast of anything like +this. Surely it must be the terrestrial paradise.' + +Now, this garden might well surprise the ambassadors. In the centre was +a kiosk of the richest architecture, constructed entirely of marble and +alabaster, with an arcade composed of countless marble pillars. In the +court was a marble reservoir, surrounded with marble balustrades, which +at each angle opened on a flight of stairs, guarded by lions and +crocodiles sculptured of white marble; and alabaster baths with taps of +gold. On one side of the garden was a large aviary; on the other a huge +elephant, chained to a tree. The walks were set in mosaic of coloured +pebbles, in all kinds of fanciful patterns; and around were groves, +bowers, arbours, and trellis-covered paths, with streams, fountains, +hedges of box and myrtle, flowers, cypresses, odoriferous plants, and +trees groaning under the weight of lemons, oranges, citrons, and fruit +in great variety. It was more like such a scene as magicians are +supposed to conjure up, than reality; and the Crusaders gazed for a +while with silent admiration. + +'On my faith,' said Bisset, at length breaking the silence, 'this is +marvellous to behold; and yet, had I the ear of the pope of the +infidels, I should recommend an addition which would be to the purpose. +I mean such a statue of the goddess Minerva as once stood in the great +square of Constantinople.' + +'And wherefore?' + +'Because Minerva is the goddess who presides over prudence and valour; +and my eyes have deceived me if, in this city, there is not a lack of +both. Marked you not, as we rode along, that the place is well nigh +without defences and fighting men; and think you that, with such spoil +in prospect, the Mamelukes, not to mention the Moguls, would hesitate +about seizing it?' + +'You err,' replied the Templar: 'the caliph, as you say, is the pope of +the infidels, and the Mamelukes hold everything he possesses as sacred.' + +'So did they last century,' remarked Bisset, elevating his shoulders; +'and yet Saladin killed a caliph with his mace; and as for the Moguls, +you know they are almost Christians, and Father Rubruquis is now in +Tartary, completing their conversion. Beshrew me, sir Templar, if I deem +not this caliph foolhardy to run the risk of being attacked, without +fighting men to defend him.' + +As the English knight spoke, an officer of the caliph appeared to +conduct the ambassadors to their lodgings; and they, having refreshed +themselves with the bath, and with food, were invited by the grand +vizier to repair to the presence of the caliph. + +It was not, however, without much ceremony, and some mystery, that the +Templar and the English knight were admitted into the interior of a +palace within whose precincts no Christian, save as a captive, had ever +before set foot. First, they were guided through dark passages, guarded +by armed Ethiopians, and then into open courts so richly and beautifully +adorned, that they could not refrain from expressing their admiration. + +'Certes,' exclaimed Bisset, halting, 'the caliph must, of all princes, +be the richest; and I should not much marvel to hear that he had +discovered the philosopher's stone, which turns everything into gold, +and of which my countryman, Roger Bacon, is said to be in search. +Nevertheless, he does not seem to have studied the Roman poet, who tells +us that treasure is hardly worth having, unless it is properly used.' + +'In truth, sir knight,' said the Templar, 'the farther we go, the +greater is the splendour and state.' + +At length the ambassadors reached a magnificent chamber, where the +caliph awaited them. At first, however, he was concealed from them by a +curtain wrought with pearls. But the grand vizier thrice prostrated +himself to the ground; and, as he did so, the traverse was drawn aside, +and the caliph appeared arrayed in gorgeous robes, seated on a throne of +gold, and surrounded by his eunuchs, who seemed both surprised and +grieved to see Christians in that place and presence. + +And now the grand vizier kissed the caliph's hand, and, presenting the +ambassadors, explained their errand. A long conversation, which was +carried on chiefly by the Templar and the grand vizier, followed; and +the caliph having expressed his willingness to treat, the grand vizier +desired him, in token of his good faith, to give the ambassadors his +hand. Musteazem, however, shook his head, to indicate that he was not +prepared to derogate so far from his dignity. At length, after some +persuasion, he consented to give them his hand, gloved. + +'That will do,' said the grand vizier. + +'I fear not,' replied the Templar, hesitating. + +'Sir,' said Bisset, addressing the caliph--for by this time the English +knight had recovered all his reckless audacity, and felt quite as much +at home as if he had been in the palace of Westminster, and speaking to +the good King Henry--'truth makes no holes to hide herself in; and +princes, if they will covenant, must deal fairly and openly. Give us, +therefore, your hand, if you mean to treat; we will make no bargains +with your glove.' + +But the caliph, still unsatisfied, stood upon his dignity, and refused +to be persuaded. However, at the instance of the grand vizier, he +consented to consider the subject, and promise the ambassadors another +audience on the morrow. But who can tell what a day may bring forth? Ere +the morrow, an event occurred which raised more important questions than +whether he could, without degradation, give his ungloved hand to a +Templar and an English knight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +A RECOGNITION. + + +WHEN the Templar and the English knight left the lodgings that had been +assigned to them in the palace of Bagdad to enter the presence of the +caliph, and were honoured with the audience described, Walter Espec, +excited by the novelty of his situation, thinking of his lost brother, +and bearing in mind that he had a mission to accomplish, strolled, +heedless of rules or regulations, into the garden of the palace, and +took his way along one of the walks, set in mosaic-coloured pebbles, +towards the kiosk. He had not proceeded far, however, when he perceived, +coming from the opposite direction, six youths, apparently about his own +age. All were so fettered as to be impeded in their walking, and seemed +to be under the charge of an aged Saracen, who, in his turban and +flowing robes, looked a most venerable personage. + +'Christian captives, as I live,' muttered Walter, compassionately. + +Of the six youths, five paced moodily along, with their eyes bent sadly +on the ground; the sixth neither seemed sad, nor had his eyes bent on +the ground, but held his head aloft with the air of one whom +circumstances could not depress; and Walter felt his heart beat and his +brain whirl, and stopped suddenly, with an exclamation of surprise, as +in this youth he recognised an old acquaintance. + +Immediately it appeared that the recognition was mutual. Indeed, the +captive no sooner observed Walter than, disregarding the remonstrances +of the old Saracen, and forgetful for the moment of his chains, he broke +away from his companions, and hobbling, not without danger of a fall, +fairly flung himself into the Boy Crusader's arms. + +'Oh, good Walter,' exclaimed he, 'what a surprise! The idea of your +being here, and at a time when they are threatening to put me to death +because I will not embrace the filthy religion of their false prophet. +But, thanks to our lady the Virgin, I now feel that I am saved.' + +'In truth, brave Guy,' replied Walter, much affected, 'you are saved, if +my efforts can save you. I have mourned for you as for one dead; and I +swear by holy Katherine, who hath preserved me miraculously through +manifold dangers, that if I fail I remain to share your fate, for weal +or for woe. But how came you hither?' + +'By St. John of Beverley,' answered Guy, 'not with my own goodwill, as +you may swear on the Evangelists. I was dragged out of the galley of the +Lord of Joinville, and, with my hands chained behind my back, I was, in +that base, unworthy plight, led captive to Cairo; and, when the +Mamelukes killed their sultan, and the sultana, that dark-eyed woman, +who outdoes Jezebel in wickedness, wished to propitiate the caliph, she +sent me and five other Christian prisoners whom you see as a +peace-offering. And so,' added Guy, looking down at his fetters, 'here +you see me, an Anglo-Norman gentleman, of great name, in captivity and +chains, and threatened with a cruel death; which, however, I would fain +escape; for, tempting as may be the prospect of the crown of martyrdom, +beshrew me, good Walter, if at my age I deem not life too sweet to part +with willingly.' + +And in spite of his fetters and his perilous plight, Guy looked as +blithe and gay as he was wont to do in the tiltyard of the castle of +Wark. + +'By the Holy Cross,' said Walter, gravely, 'I cannot pretend to make +light of the business; and yet I am not without hope; for a Templar, and +Bisset, the stout knight whom I now serve, have come from the good King +Louis as ambassadors to the caliph, and they will not fail you. But +credit this, at least, that if the worst comes to the worst I will +remain in this place, and not leave it--save in your company--tide what +may.' + +Guy was about to protest against Walter sacrificing himself to +friendship; but further conversation was prevented by the approach of +the aged Saracen; and Guy, however reluctant, was fain to rejoin the +companions of his captivity. Walter, however, followed their steps, and +watched their movements, till they disappeared in a door contiguous to +that part of the palace in which the ambassadors were lodged with their +train. But, warned by Beltran, the renegade, that it would be prudent +to confine himself to the quarters assigned, he returned to his +lodgings, and there, musing over this unexpected meeting with his +brother-in-arms, awaited Bisset's return. + +At length the English knight appeared. But he did not seem quite +himself. The frank and joyous expression which characterised him had +deserted his countenance, and he looked a changed man. Haughty sternness +sat on his brow; his eye-brows were elevated; his eye glanced flame; his +nostrils breathed fire; and he clenched and opened his hand excitedly, +as if contemplating some ruthless deed, as he strode into the apartment +and seized Walter's arm. + +'Sir knight,' said Walter, amazed, and almost terrified, 'what aileth +thee?' + +'By the might of Mary!' exclaimed the knight hurriedly and sternly, 'I +have seen a sight that has roused all the Norman within me, and made me +thirst for gold and pant for conquest.' + +'And what of the caliph?' asked Walter. + +'Tush,' answered the knight, contemptuously. 'This caliph is nobody, +save as master of this palace and city, and the treasure they contain. +By my father's soul! the caitiff wretch is rolling in wealth. May the +saints grant me patience to think of it calmly! The very throne of gold +on which he sits would, if coined into money, furnish forth an army, +capable, under a skilful and daring leader, of conquering kingdoms. Oh, +for five hundred brave men in mail, and the cross on their shoulders! By +the bones of Becket, I should, ere morning, be lord of all;' and, +torturing himself with the idea of such a prize escaping his grasp, +Bisset sunk into silence, and indulged in reflection. + +'Sir knight,' said Walter, after a long pause, 'I have made a strange +discovery. Guy Muschamp, the English squire, my brother-in-arms, is a +captive in this palace, and in danger of death, because he will not +abandon his faith as a Christian. I have seen him; I have spoken with +him; I implore you to obtain his release; for,' added Walter, with tears +in his eyes, 'I must tell you frankly, that otherwise I must remain to +share his fate.' + +'Fear not, boy,' said Bisset, touched with the squire's emotion; 'I will +see to his being ransomed. In truth, I hardly think there will be much +difficulty; for this caliph is a miser--a mean, detestable miser--and +would sell anything for bezants--even his soul, if he had not already +pawned it to Satan, through his brokers Mahound and Termagaunt.' And, +too much occupied with his dream of seizing Bagdad, and carving out a +kingdom with his sword, the knight relapsed into silence, and scarcely +moved till evening fell. + +It was just after sunset, and Bisset was rapt in thought, and Walter +Espec perplexing his soul about Guy Muschamp, when suddenly they were +aroused by the voice of the Muezzin, who, according to the custom of the +Saracens, standing on the minaret of a mosque hard by, solemnly +proclaimed three times--'There is but one God, and Mahomet is his +prophet.' + +Walter sprang up, quivering with pious horror, and hastily crossed +himself. + +'Sir knight,' said he, earnestly, 'I feel that this place is unholy.' + +'Mayhap, boy,' replied the knight. 'But patter your prayers, and no evil +will come nigh you. For the rest, Bagdad would be holy enough were the +walls and towers manned by Christian warriors, and the mosques converted +into churches, and I king, with the caliph's treasures to go forth +against the Moslem, conquering and to conquer. Oh, credit me, it is a +glorious vision. But it cannot be realised. Marry, I spoke too truly +when I said that I was born without luck on my side.' + +Night fell; the moon rose; and the Crusaders, after for a time looking +out upon innumerable stars, glorious in the blue depths of an Asian sky, +saw to the comfort and security of their attendants, and then stretched +themselves to rest--Walter laying himself down at the door of the +chamber which Bisset occupied. In spite of the knight's agitation and +the squire's anxiety, both soon sank into sleep. But their repose was +destined to be broken. About daybreak they were awakened by cries and +tumult, that filled the palace of the caliph. Gradually, the noise +increased, and was blended with strange cries, as of warriors storming +the city. Bisset and Walter listened with breathless attention, as yell +after yell, and whoop after whoop, intimated that some terrible +catastrophe had occurred; and as they hearkened, the Templar, who had +occupied an adjoining apartment, rushed in, calm, but pale as a ghost. + +'Gentlemen,' said he, 'we are dead men.' + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +WOE TO THE CALIPH. + + +I HAVE mentioned that, in the middle of the thirteenth century, the +Moguls, or Tartars, were the terror of Asia and Europe. In considering +their energy and cruelty as warriors, is it wonderful that their +movements should have been regarded with lively alarm? From the Yellow +River to the banks of the Danube they had marched, conquering and +slaughtering; marking their way with devastation, and making the two +continents resound with the tumult of war and the crash of empires. + +Originally a number of hordes, inhabiting the waste regions that lie +between ancient Emaues, Siberia, and China, and the sea of Kamschatka, +the Tartars formed several nations of hunters and shepherds, living +under tents, with their families subsisting on the produce of the chase +and the flesh of their flocks, and acknowledging one God, the sovereign +of heaven, but reserving their worship for the genii, who, as they +believed, followed their steps, and watched over the safety of their +families. They moved from place to place, despising agriculture, and not +deigning to build. Even as late as the twelfth century, they had only +one city--Karrakoroum--situated on the Orgon, in the country +subsequently the residence of the Grand Lama. In short, they looked upon +all the world as their own, and, disliking all neighbours and rivals, +were frequently engaged in war, which they deemed the sole occupation +worthy of their attention. + +As warriors, the Tartars early proved themselves most formidable. Their +valour and discipline were remarkable; and they had neither baggage nor +provisions to encumber their marches. While the skins of sheep or bears +served them for clothing, they made a little hardened milk, diluted with +water, suffice them for food. On horseback, they were as much at home as +a sea king on the deck of his war-ship, and their seat was so easy and +firm, that they were in the habit of eating, and even sleeping, without +taking the trouble to dismount. They fought with lance and bow, reared +machines of terrible power; and all the stratagems of war were familiar +to them. They excelled in the art of fighting while flying; and, with +them, retreat was often the signal for victory. + +It was in the twelfth century that Gheniskhan was elected by the Tartars +as their ruler, and that, under his leadership, they struck terror into +the surrounding nations. Under Gheniskhan, the Tartars made themselves +masters of China, and the empire of Karismia; and, during the reign of +his son Octai, they added Turkistan and India and Persia to their +conquests. Moreover, at that time, they turned their eyes westward; and, +having crossed the Volga, they overran Russia, ravaged Poland, +desolated Hungary, devastated the frontiers of Germany, and caused such +dread, that even England was agitated with the danger that threatened +all Christendom. + +About the year 1245, however, Mango, the grandson of Gheniskhan, +professed a desire to embrace Christianity; and Oulagon, the brother of +Mango, espoused a Christian woman; and, when King Louis was wintering in +Cyprus, ambassadors from Tartary reached the island, with messages to +the effect that the great khan had been baptised, and that he would +readily aid the Crusaders in rescuing Jerusalem from the Moslems. The +saint-king received the ambassadors with joy, entertained them +hospitably, conducted them to church, and, when they departed, sent two +monks with magnificent presents to the great khan, and exhortations to +hold fast the profession of his faith without wavering. Even when the +Tartars menaced Bagdad, an ambassador, despatched by King Louis from +Acre, was at the court of the great khan, with the object of converting +the Tartars; and it appears clear that, however little they might care +for either faith, the Tartars, in the struggle of Christian and Moslem +in the East, were ever ready to take the side of the Christian against +the Moslem. + +Such being the state of affairs, Mango sent his brother with an army to +besiege Bagdad; and Oulagon, raising his banner, marched towards the +city of the caliph. Now it happened that Musteazem, being at once under +the influence of the most egregious vanity and of the most sordid +avarice, neither believed in his danger, nor had the heart to expend +money to provide the means of defence, but devoted to the hoarding of +the jewels, gold, and treasures with which his palace abounded, the +whole time that should have been employed in mustering armies and +preparing for war. + +However, when the caliph learned that Oulagon was approaching to attack +Bagdad, he partially awoke from his dream, and sent offers to treat. +Oulagon, who either suspected, or pretended to suspect, a snare, +thereupon proposed that a marriage should take place between the +children of the caliph and the great khan, as the best way of preserving +peace; and Musteazem expressed his entire satisfaction with the +proposal. + +The Tartar then requested the caliph to send sixty of his chief men to +treat of the marriage; and, when this was complied with, he demanded +sixty more, that he might have full security for the fulfilment of the +treaty. Not doubting Oulagon's good faith, Musteazem did as he was asked +to do; and the royal Mogul smiled grimly. + +'Now,' said Oulagon to his Tartars, 'seeing that we have in our hands +six score of the caliph's chief counsellors and most wealthy subjects, I +cannot doubt that the remainder are very common sort of people, and not +likely to offer much resistance. My plans have been laid with such +secrecy and caution, that nothing is suspected. I have only to appear +before Bagdad, and take possession.' + +And no time was wasted. In fact, Oulagon had no motive for sparing the +seat of the caliphate; and no sooner did he get the six score of +Musteazem's chief men into his hands, than he ordered them to be +beheaded, and prepared for an attack. Nor, as he rightly anticipated, +was there much danger of an obstinate resistance. In fact, not only was +the city undefended by any regular force: it was divided against itself. +The citizens were formed into various sects, all at daggers drawn, and +much more earnest in their conflicts with each other than in resolution +to repulse assailants. + +It was early morning when the inhabitants of Bagdad were aroused from +their slumbers with loud shouts of alarm, and cries that the Tartars +were upon them. Resistance was vain; and equally vain was any hope of +mercy. Having set up his machines of war, Oulagon gave the word of +command, and the Tartars rushed to the assault with all the ferocity of +their nature. Entering the city sword in hand, Oulagon gave it up to the +fury of his soldiers. Carnage, and all the horrors of war, followed; the +gutters ran with blood; and the caliph who, a few hours earlier, deemed +his person so sacred that he would not even consent to touch the hand of +a Frank, experienced such rough treatment that he shrunk and shuddered +and sickened. + +Oulagon, however, was in no mood to respect the person of the head of +the Moslem religion. No allegiance did the grim Tartar owe to the heir +of Mahomet. Having seized Musteazem in his palace, Oulagon, after +severely reproaching him with meditating treachery, caused him to be +confined in an iron cage; and, after keeping him in durance for some +time, came to add insult to injury. + +But, ere relating what passed, it is necessary to return to the +Christian ambassadors. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +IN THE LION'S MOUTH. + + +IT must be admitted that the position of the ambassadors was not +enviable; and, when the Templar hastily stated that the Tartars were +storming Bagdad, even Bisset's bold countenance fell, and his tongue +faltered. + +'I will not hide,' said he, recovering himself, 'that our doom looks +dark; our heads are in the lion's mouth. But, as Christian warriors, we +must trust in God and the saints; and, as brave men, we must do what we +can to extricate ourselves.' + +Without wasting more time in words, Bisset proceeded to buckle on his +chain mail, while Walter Espec also arrayed himself; and, while the +knight armed himself with his ponderous battle-axe, the squire +unsheathed his falchion; and both, resuming their wonted air of +dauntless courage, prepared, in case of the worst, to sell their lives +dearly. Meanwhile, the attendants of the ambassadors filled the chamber, +with alarm on their faces; and thither also Guy Muschamp and his fellow +captives found their way, closely followed by the aged Saracen, who +bowed himself before Bisset and exclaimed-- + +'In the name of God, save me!' + +'Save you, Saracen!' said Bisset. 'On my faith, I cannot but think that +the man will do well this day who saves himself.' + +'But,' asked the Saracen, 'do you not believe in a God, born of a woman, +who was crucified for the salvation of the human race, and rose again +the third day?' + +'Assuredly, Saracen,' replied Bisset, regarding his questioner with a +curious eye: 'as certainly as I believe that I am now in the palace of +the caliph, and in greater danger than I pretend to relish.' + +'In that case,' said the Saracen, 'place your hopes in your God; for, if +he was able to recall himself to life, he will not want the power to +deliver you from the evils that now threaten you.' + +'On my faith,' replied Bisset, a little surprised, 'I must say that you +speak the words of wisdom were you twenty times an infidel; and, for my +own part, I would fain hope that God and the saints, especially good St. +George, will befriend us in our jeopardy.' + +Meanwhile the noise and tumult caused by the Tartars, as they forced +their way into Bagdad, drew nearer, and shouts and shrieks were heard, +which left no doubt that they had entered the palace. Bisset thereupon, +grasping his battle-axe, took his post on one side of the door: the +Templar, sword in hand, stationed himself on the other. Neither spoke, +and such was the silence of those who were likely to share their fate, +that a pin might have been heard to drop. But though the carnage was +going on around them, they were left undisturbed; and they passed a +full hour in breathless suspense. + +At length a loud shout intimated that the Tartars had penetrated to the +garden; and Bisset, wishing to tiring matters to a crisis, stepped +forward so as to make himself visible, and then retreated to his post. +Immediately twenty of the fierce Mogul warriors rushed towards the +place, and with loud shouts prepared for fresh carnage. But, when they +perceived the Templar and the English knight guarding the door with the +air of men who could not fail to prove terrible antagonists, they +hesitated, paused, and seemed to think that it was necessary to exercise +caution. + +Now, this delay was not without an important result. In the leader of +the Tartars, Bisset to his astonishment saw a man whom he had met under +other circumstances, and instantly turned his discovery to account. + +'Hold, hold, brave warrior!' cried he, in a conciliating tone. 'With us +you have no quarrel. We are ambassadors who were sent hither by the King +of France to obtain the release of some captives, and in you I recognise +one of the barons of Tartary who came to the court of the island of +Cyprus, and to whom I myself, as a knight in the Christian king's +service, rendered what service I could. With us, therefore, I repeat, +you have no quarrel. Wherefore should we dye our weapons in each other's +blood?' + +The Tartar remained motionless, and eyed the knight keenly, and not +without suspicion. + +'It may be as you say,' replied he after some consideration; 'and yet I +know not how I am to credit your words. Knowest thou that the Moslems +have a proverb which says, "Hearken to a Frank, and hear a fable?"' + +'You do me wrong by your suspicions,' exclaimed Bisset. 'On my honour as +a Christian knight, I tell you naught but the truth.' + +'Give me a token by which I may prove the truth of what you say,' +suggested the Tartar. And Bisset forthwith related several incidents +that had occurred during the residence of the Tartars at Nicosia. + +'Enough,' said the Tartar. 'I now give credit to the words you have +spoken; therefore let there be peace between thee and me, and between +thy people and my people. For the present I leave to take measures for +your security; and I will conduct you to the presence of Oulagon the +brave, brother of the great khan, and grandson of him who received the +title of "King of Kings" from a prophet who came down from heaven on a +white horse.' + +The ambassadors now breathed freely; and the attendants looked upon +Bisset as almost more than mortal; and the knight congratulated himself +on the prospect of getting his head out of the lion's den. It was not, +however, till the morrow that the Templar and the English knight were +led to the presence of Oulagon; a semi-savage warrior, with those Tartar +features which naturally looked harsh to the eyes of men accustomed to +the features of Norman and Saxon, and short of stature, but thickset, +compact of body, and of prodigious strength. Bisset was at first by no +means satisfied with Oulagon's look, but the Tartar manifested every +disposition to treat the ambassadors as friends. + +'The wrath of the King of Kings,' said he, 'is like the fire of a +conflagration, which the slightest wind may light up, but which nothing +but blood can quench. But between the King of Kings and the King of +France there is peace and amity and goodwill. Wherefore, friend, say +what you desire of me, and your will shall be granted.' + +'Simply,' replied Bisset, 'permission to depart with my comrade and our +train, and six Christian captives who have thrown themselves on our +protection.' + +'Be it as you will, Frank,' said Oulagon. 'But not till you have had +fitting gifts; for this is the storehouse of the treasure of the world, +and I would fain send gifts to the King of France; nor would I like his +ambassadors to depart empty-handed.' + +The knight and the Templar bowed. + +'But,' said Oulagon with a cunning leer, 'ere departing you must visit +the caliph in my company, that you may relate to the King of the Franks +how the King of Kings punishes men who are the enemies of both.' + +And without delay the Tartar led the ambassadors to the prison where he +had on the previous day shut up Musteazem in an iron cage, and where he +had since kept his captive without food. + +'Caliph,' asked Oulagon approaching, 'dost thou hunger?' + +'Yes,' answered Musteazem indignantly. 'I do hunger, and not without +cause.' + +[Illustration: "Ah, Caliph," said Oulagon with bitter scorn, "thou mayst +now see thy great fault; for if thou hadst given part of thy treasures, +which thou lovest so dearly, thou mightest have held out against +me."--p. 251.] + +'Then,' said Oulagon, 'thou shalt have that to eat which above all +things thy heart loveth.' And the Tartar ordered a large golden platter, +filled with jewels and precious stones, to be brought and set before the +captive. + +'Knowest thou these treasures, caliph?' asked he with an affectation of +carelessness. + +'Yes,' answered Musteazem sharply, 'I know them, for they are mine own.' + +'And dost thou dearly love thy treasures?' asked Oulagon. + +'Yes,' replied Musteazem, simply and frankly. + +'Well, then,' said Oulagon, 'since thou lovest thy treasures so well, +take of these jewels as many as thou wilt, and appease thy hunger.' + +'They are not food to eat,' replied Musteazem, shaking his head with an +air of great dejection. + +'Ah, caliph,' said Oulagon with bitter scorn, 'thou mayest now see thy +great fault; for if thou hadst given part of thy treasures, which thou +lovest so dearly, to subsidise soldiers for thy defence, thou mightest +have held out against me. But that which thou didst prize most highly +has failed thee in the hour of need.' + +And Oulagon withdrew with the Templar and the English knight; and soon +after this interview Musteazem drew his last breath. But whether he +perished of hunger, or of indignant despair, or by the violence of his +conquerors, is not clearly ascertained. In the midst of the tumult and +disorder which followed the sack of Bagdad, and the extinction of the +caliphate, chroniclers neglected to record under what circumstances, +and how, died the last of the caliphs. + +But, however that may have been, the ambassadors next morning took their +departure from Bagdad. + +'Now God and all the saints be praised!' exclaimed Bisset: 'our heads +are out of the lion's mouth.' + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +END OF THE ARMED PILGRIMAGE. + + +THE Templar and the English knight after a variety of adventures reached +Acre, having on their way fallen in with Father Yves, whom King Louis +had sent on a mission to 'the Old Man of the Mountains'--that remarkable +personage to whose behests kings bowed, and at whose name princes +trembled--and a knight of the noble House of Coucy, who had come from +Constantinople, and whose accounts of the state of the Latin empire of +the East much increased Bisset's desire to go and offer his sword to the +Emperor Baldwin de Courtenay, then struggling desperately to maintain +his throne against Greeks and Turks. + +On reaching Acre, however, the ambassadors found that King Louis and the +court were at Sajecte, and without delay repaired thither to present the +gifts sent by Oulagon, and inform him of the unexpected event which had +frustrated the object of their mission. Louis was deeply grieved at the +failure of his attempt to open the prison doors of the unfortunate +captives, and with tears bewailed their unhappy fate. + +But soon after this, the saint-king found that the case was not +desperate. The Sultan of Damascus went to war with the Mamelukes, and +both parties craved the alliance of the French monarch. Louis, +therefore, sent John de Valence to Cairo once more to demand the release +of the captives, and this time he obtained something like satisfaction. +Two hundred knights were immediately set at liberty, and allowed to +depart for Acre, which they reached in safety. + +At length, however, news came to King Louis, while he was at Sajecte, +which compelled him to turn his thoughts towards France, where he was +much wanted, and to deliberate on the expediency of returning to his own +kingdom. + +When it was known in France that the king was a prisoner in the hands of +the Saracens, the utmost excitement prevailed throughout the land; and +suddenly among the pastoral population appeared a man bearing a letter, +to which he pretended to attach a mysterious importance. + +'This,' said he, solemnly, 'I have received from the mother of God; and +it commands me to assemble all the Christian shepherds and herdsmen, and +to march at their head to deliver the king. Follow me then, and fear +not, for the battle is not to the strong, but reserved for the weak and +humble.' + +It appears that this man's eloquence, and the mystery which he affected, +fascinated the shepherds and herdsmen of France, and they flocked to him +in multitudes; and his followers, having been joined by outlaws and +exiles, ere long formed a formidable force, and caused much alarm. + +At first, indeed, the queen-mother, Blanche of Castille, naturally +anxious for her son's release, favoured the enterprise. But the priests, +aware it might be that the leaders of the movement had ulterior objects +in view, set their faces decidedly against it, and the leaders of the +shepherds retaliated by stirring up the populace against the priests, +and by the massacre of several ecclesiastics. On hearing this, Queen +Blanche changed her policy, took part against the shepherds, caused +their leader to be beheaded, and their army to be dispersed. Moreover, +the populace, who had at first held the shepherds in high honour, began +to suspect them of imposture, and slaughtered them without mercy; and +all was still doubt and dismay and confusion, when messengers brought to +Sajecte news that Queen Blanche had breathed her last. + +Louis was profoundly affected when he heard of his mother's death, and +mourned sadly for two or three days, without speaking with any one. +However, at the end of that time, he was visited by the papal legate, +and sent for the Lord of Joinville; and Joinville, who was on the point +of going into a meadow to amuse himself with martial exercises, entered +into conversation. + +'Ah, seneschal,' began the king, mournfully, 'I have lost my mother.' + +'Well, sire,' said Joinville, calmly, 'I am not surprised at such an +event, seeing that she was no longer young, and that to all of us death +must come some time; but, sire, I am surprised that so great a prince +should grieve so outrageously; for you know that the wise man says, +"Whatever grief the valiant man may suffer in his mind, he ought not to +show it on his countenance; for he that does so causes pain to his +friends and pleasure to his enemies."' + +'However, seneschal,' said the legate, 'the king is much satisfied with +the good and agreeable services you have rendered him, and earnestly +wishes for your honour and advancement. He commands me to tell you, as +he knows it will give you pleasure at heart, that he intends to embark +for France on this side of Easter.' + +'In truth, it does give me pleasure,' said Joinville. 'And I pray that +the Lord may ever induce the king to act in accordance with his will.' + +And soon after Louis, with his queen and his knights and nobles, +returned to Acre, and made preparations for his departure. + +It happened that when John de Valence and his associates went to Cairo, +to treat for the release of the French captives, and also for the +remains of some of the French warriors who fell at Mansourah, the +Saracens suddenly reminded him of the Earl of Salisbury. + +'I wonder,' said an emir, 'that you Christians, who venerate the ashes +of the dead, make no inquiry for the bones of that most illustrious and +noble-born William, to whom you give the name of Longsword; whereas we, +seeing that he was slain in battle and on account of his illustrious +qualities, have treated his remains with all respect.' + +On hearing this, the ambassadors were somewhat confused. + +'How,' asked they, one of another, 'can we disparage this man, because +he was an Englishman, when even the Saracens accord the honour due to +his nobility of soul?' + +Accordingly, the Crusaders requested that Salisbury's bones might be +given to them; they carried them to Acre, where they were laid, with +much respect, in the church of the Holy Cross. + +It was on the afternoon of the day when the burial took place that +Bisset, who had been maturing his project of repairing to +Constantinople, entered his lodgings, and took Walter Espec by one hand +and Guy Muschamp by the other. + +'Boys,' said he, 'this crusade, as I foresaw, has resulted in naught +save disaster, and, as fighting men, it behoves us to consider whither +we are now to carry our swords. For my part, I am resolved to turn the +gifts of the Tartar warrior into money, and make without delay for +Constantinople, and fight for the Latin Emperor. Are you willing to +accompany me and share my fortunes, or must we part?' + +'In truth, sir knight,' replied Walter, frankly, 'I sigh for the green +fields and the oak forests of my native land; and, therefore, I would +fain embark with the army of King Louis, and return to Europe.' + +'As you will, sir squire,' said Bisset, a little mortified: 'albeit, I +cannot but deem that you are not moved so much by the desire to visit +your native land, as to be near to a certain noble demoiselle, on whose +gratitude you have some claims. Well, on my life, I blame you not; for +at your age I might have felt as you do, and, mayhap, lived to repent my +delusion. But, be it known to you that, as matters stand, the Sultan of +Damascus has intimated that he will permit any of the pilgrims to visit +Jerusalem. Now, have you the courage--for courage will be needed--to +enter the Holy City, held as it is by fierce Saracens, and kneel at the +Holy Sepulchre?' + +'By Holy Katherine, sir knight!' exclaimed Walter, bluntly, 'you must +hold me excused. Happy, indeed, should I deem myself in the privilege of +kneeling at the Holy Sepulchre, even at the cost of much labour and +fatigue. But these are not the days of Godfrey and the Baldwins; and I +care not to trust to the tender mercies of Bibars Bendocdar and his +Mameluke myrmidons. I will not needlessly put my head again into the +lion's mouth.' + +'And what say you on the point, my gay and puissant warrior?' asked +Bisset, turning to Guy Muschamp. + +'Oh,' answered Guy, merrily, 'as says the good Walter, so say I, neither +to Jerusalem nor to Constantinople do I go. I have a father and mother +and kindred at home, whose faces I long to see. Wherefore, I go to +England, and to no other place.' + +Walter Espec sighed, as he was in the habit of doing, at the mention of +kindred, and gave himself up to painful reminiscences. + +'Sir knight,' said he, addressing Bisset, after a long silence, 'deem +you that my lost brother can be in the hands of him who is known as the +Old Man of the Mountains?' + +'What!' exclaimed Bisset, 'rearing as an assassin? The saints +forefend!' + +'It is strange,' said Walter, after a pause, 'that I have begun to hope +better things; for, as I lay asleep last night, methought I saw him in +the flesh, and that he looked high and brave, and that he told me how +the blessed Katherine had preserved him from evil.' + +'May your dream be realised ere we depart from this holy land, good +Walter!' said Guy, with sympathy. + +'Amen,' added Bisset, earnestly. 'More unlikely things have come to +pass.' + +And, in truth, such a result was not altogether impossible; for at that +moment Walter Espec and Osbert Espec were both within the walls of Acre. +But Walter was preparing to embark for Europe; and Osbert was on the eve +of setting out for the castle of Kakhow, not to return for many days. +But the stars had decreed that they were to meet. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +A SUDDEN DISCOVERY. + + +IT was evening, and shadows were closing over Acre. But the scene thus +presented was fair to behold. The sky was richly coloured, the setting +sun painted the landscape in brilliant hues, the wind sighed among the +palms and lofty sycamores, and the waves of the Mediterranean murmured +against the white walls and on the Syrian shore. + +Walter Espec sat in the lodgings of Bisset, hard by the palace occupied +by the King of France, and he was alone. Bisset had been summoned to +attend the king; Guy Muschamp had gone to visit his kinsman, the Lord of +Joinville; and Walter, left with his own thoughts, was reclining on a +couch, and resting his head against a window, with his eyes fixed on the +citizens who passed before him, on their way to breathe the air in the +gardens outside the walls, when he was aroused by the tramp of cavalry, +and the approach of a body of warriors, whose white mantles over their +armour, and whole appearance, indicated that they were military monks. +Walter's curiosity was aroused, and he shouted to make inquiries of a +portly citizen who was passing at the moment, and who, as Walter knew, +as a confirmed gossip. + +'Good citizen,' said he, 'these are warrior monks, and yet they neither +wear the habit of the Templars nor the Hospitallers. Canst tell me what +knights they be who come along so proudly?' + +'In faith can I, sir squire,' answered the citizen; 'and blithely will I +do so. These be the knights of St. Katherine, of Mount Sinai; and they +are brave men in hours of danger; albeit, like other Orders, overmuch +given to amassing wealth, and more intent on keeping it than keeping the +vows of their Order.' + +'Thanks, good citizen,' said Walter, laughing heartily, as Crusaders +generally did when reminded of the faults of the military monks. 'And, +to requite your courtesy, I admonish you to speak in a whisper when you +say aught in dispraise of Templars or Hospitallers; for you must be a +bolder man than I pretend to be, if you fear not to provoke their +enmity.' + +'Gramercy for your warning, young squire,' replied the citizen, as, +apparently much amused, and chuckling to himself, he proceeded on his +way; while Walter, standing up, watched the warrior monks as they passed +the window. + +Now, Walter Espec had of course heard of the monks of St. Katherine, and +especially what a stern front they had presented on the day when the +Saracens threatened Acre, and carried off Adeline de Brienne. Moreover, +he was naturally somewhat interested in an Order instituted in honour of +the tutelar saint of his House: but he had never before seen them; and +he looked out with no inconsiderable curiosity as, mounted on choice +steeds, they came on and swept along, with bronzed visages, athletic +forms, muscular limbs, and the air of men who believed implicitly in +their own superiority over their compeers, and desired nothing so much +as foes to conquer. + +[Illustration: Suddenly Walter started in amazement, and uttered a cry; +then remained for a moment silent, and quivered with agitation; then +seized his cap, and, rushing from the house, hastened, with excitement +on his countenance and wildness in his manner, after the warrior +monk.--p. 262.] + +But suddenly Walter started in amazement, and uttered a cry; then +remained for a moment silent, and quivered with agitation; then seized +his cap, and, rushing from the house, hastened, with excitement on his +countenance and wildness in his manner, after the warrior monks, not +losing sight of them till they disappeared within the gates of the +castle of St. Katherine, which they possessed in Acre, near the gate of +St. Anthony. Into this building he demanded to be admitted. + +Two hours later, Walter Espec returned to his lodgings, and found Guy +Muschamp awaiting his return, and impatient to tell him that everything +was arranged for embarking for France in the king's ship in company with +the Lord of Joinville. But observing that his friend's countenance wore +a look of extraordinary elation, he, for the time being, quite forgot +the communication he had intended to make, and eyed him with an +expression of keen curiosity. + +'Good Walter,' said he, quickly, and with interest, 'you appear so +excited that I cannot but presume that something wonderful has befallen +you since we parted?' + +'In truth, brave Guy, you guess aright,' replied Walter, taking his +friend's hand. 'Rejoice with me, my brother-in-arms, for I have found +him who was lost.' + +'Found your brother!--found Osbert Espec!' exclaimed Guy, in surprise. + +'It is true as that I am a living man,' replied Walter, joyfully. 'When +he reached Marseilles with the companions of his pilgrimage, instead, +like them, of going back to die of hunger in the forests, or listening, +like them, to the temptations of the two rascal merchants by whom they +were ensnared, he embarked on board the "Christopher," which was on the +point of sailing for Acre; and the skipper, having brought him ashore, +carried him to the house of a Northern knight, who had long been +fighting for the Cross. And this noble warrior, being about to return to +England, placed him under the protection of the Grand Master of the +Order of St. Katherine; and, when he was of a fitting age, the grand +master, to whom the name of Espec was honourably known, made him take +the vows of the Order. And now, thanks to God and Holy Katherine, he is +in safety and honour, and rides bravely as the bravest among his +brethren, with his white mantle over his chain mail.' + +'By St. John of Beverley!' exclaimed Guy, in surprise, 'I much rejoice +to hear that he was so graciously protected by the saints in the hour of +danger, and that his fortune has been such as is worthy of a Norman +gentleman.' + +'And what is more,' said Walter, proudly, 'it was he who unhorsed the +two Saracens with his lance without breaking it, and who wounded their +leader on that day when they came hither to demand tribute.' + +'A most worthy exploit, as it has been related to me,' replied Guy; 'and +one that does credit to his strength and courage. But tell me, good +Walter, how rejoiced he was to see you after so long a separation, and +all your suffering on his account.' + +A shade of disappointment appeared on Walter Espec's handsome +countenance. After a pause, however, he replied-- + +'In faith, brave Guy, to be frank with you, I must own that my brother, +for whom I had so long mourned, manifested less enthusiasm than I +expected; and when I talked to him of our castellated house of +Heckspeth, on the Wansbeck, and of the tombs of our ancestors in the +Abbey of Newminster, and even of my great namesake, the glory of our +line, I perceived right well that he cared for none of these things. His +heart and soul are in his Order, its renown and influence; and all his +hopes are for the restoration of its glory. And nothing would serve him +but attempting to induce me to take the vows of poverty and celibacy and +obedience. But I answered readily, that such vows were not to my +liking--that I despise not riches; that I rather love noble demoiselles; +and that I am by nature more inclined to command than to obey; in short, +that I will neither be a warrior monk nor a monk in minster. And so the +great bell of the castle of St. Katherine tolled, and we parted; and at +daybreak he mounts to ride to the castle of Kakhow, which the knights of +his Order hold. + +'And now, good Walter,' said Guy, 'having fulfilled your mission, for +such you deemed it, you will return to England with a light heart.' + +But Walter Espec only sighed, as his thoughts reverted to Adeline de +Brienne and to the great gulf that seemed to interpose between them. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +HOMEWARD BOUND. + + +ON the vigil of St. Mark, after Easter, the Crusaders having mustered at +Acre, flocked on board their ships and prepared to set sail for Europe. +On that day also the King of France, leaving Geoffrey de Segrines with a +hundred knights to aid in the defence of what remained of the once grand +kingdom of Godfrey and the Baldwins, left the palace which he had +occupied, and, attended by the papal legate, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, +and the Christian nobles and knights of Palestine, walked on foot to the +port, amid an immense crowd assembled to witness his departure, who all, +while lamenting his departure, applauded him as the Father of the +Christians, and implored Heaven to shower blessings on his head. + +'This is the day of St. Mark, seneschal,' said Louis to Joinville, as +they went on board; 'and on St. Mark's-day was I born at Poissy.' + +'Sire,' replied Joinville, 'you may well say that you have been born +again on St. Mark's-day; for you are escaping from a pestilent land, +where you have remained so long.' + +Bisset, the English knight, resolute to his purpose, had taken farewell +of his companions, and embarked for Constantinople, to wield his +ponderous battle-axe in the cause of Baldwin de Courtenay, whose empire +was falling to ruins. But Walter Espec and Guy Muschamp were on board +the king's vessel, through the influence of the Lord of Joinville; and +there also was Beltran the renegade, who, touched with remorse, had +abandoned his wealth in Egypt, and was doing penance by labouring as a +seaman. + +At length the fleet weighed anchor and set sail, with every prospect of +a prosperous voyage. But, ere long, a somewhat alarming accident +occurred. On Saturday, as the French approached Cyprus, about vespers, +the vessels were suddenly enveloped in a thick fog, and the ship in +which were the king and queen struck on a sandbank, and was so damaged +that Louis was recommended to leave it without loss of time. + +'Sire,' said the skipper, 'if you will believe me, you must remove from +this ship to another. We well know that, since the keel has suffered so +much damage, all the ribs must be started, and should there be a high +wind, we fear she will be unable to bear the sea without sinking.' + +'Now,' said the king, 'I put it to you on your faith and loyalty, to +tell me truly, if the ship were your own, and full of merchandise, would +you quit it?' + +'No!' said the skipper; 'for we would rather risk our lives than lose a +vessel worth forty or fifty thousand livres.' + +'Why, then, do you advise me to quit it?' asked the king. + +'Oh, sire,' answered the skipper, 'we are different sort of beings; for +there is no sum, however great, that could compensate for the loss of +yourself and the queen and your children; and we cannot advise you to +run such a risk.' + +'Ah,' replied the king, 'now that you have answered, I will tell you +what I think of the matter. Suppose I quit this vessel, there are five +hundred persons on board, who will remain in Cyprus for fear of the +danger that may befall them should they stay on board. Now,' continued +Louis, 'there is not one among them who is attached to his own person +more than I am myself; and, if we land, they will lose all hope of +returning to their own country. Therefore, I declare I will rather +expose myself, the queen, and my children to some danger, under the +providence of God, than make such numbers of people suffer as are now +with me.' + +The example which Louis set inspired the companions of his voyage with +courage; and the fleet having resumed its course, encountered, but +survived, a violent storm, took in water at Cyprus, and soon after came +in sight of Lampedosa, an island which was then uninhabited. And here a +strange incident occurred. + +It happened that King Louis and his company, including Walter Espec and +Guy Muschamp, landed, and, while climbing among the rocks, discovered a +hermitage, with a handsome garden, planted with olives, figs, vines, and +many other fruit trees, and watered by a beautiful spring. On going to +the upper end of the garden, the king and his company found an oratory, +the roof of which was painted white, with a red cross in the centre, +and, in a chamber more retired, two bodies laid toward the East, with +their hands on their breasts. Soon after the king and his company, +conversing about what they had seen, returned on board their ship, and +the skipper was about to weigh anchor, when it was discovered that one +of the warriors who had gone ashore was missing; and this caused much +excitement. + +'I think I can account for this,' said the skipper. 'One of the sailors +was desirous of turning hermit, and I doubt not he has seized so fair an +opportunity.' + +Walter Espec and Guy Muschamp exchanged glances. It was Beltran the +renegade, who had thus devoted himself to solitude. + +'Well,' said the king, on hearing this, 'let three sacks of biscuit be +left on the shore; the man may find them, and, if so, they will serve +for sustenance.' + +Soon after this an accident happened to one of the squires on board the +ship of one of the barons of Provence, which, at the time, was about +half a league from that of the king. One morning, finding, as he lay in +bed, that the sea dashed into his eyes and much annoyed him, he ordered +the squire to stop it up. Having in vain attempted to do so from the +inside, the squire went outside, and was endeavouring to stop the hole, +when his foot dipped and he fell into the sea. The ship kept on her way +without the mariners being aware of what had happened, and as the +squire did not attempt to move, those on board the king's ship thought +some piece of furniture had tumbled overboard. On coming nearer, +however, they perceived that it was a human being, and Walter and Guy, +with some mariners, lowered a boat, rowed to the rescue, and succeeded +in saving him. + +On being brought on board the king's ship, the squire related how he met +with the accident, and was asked why he did not endeavour to save +himself by swimming. + +'In faith,' answered the squire, 'I had no occasion so to do; for, as I +fell into the sea, I cried, "Our Lady of Valbert!" and she supported me +by the shoulders till I was rescued.' + +'In good sooth,' remarked the Lord of Joinville, on hearing this, 'it is +truly marvellous; and, to perpetuate the memory of this miracle, I vow +to have it painted on the windows of my chapel at Joinville, and also on +the windows of the church at Blecourt;' and, on reaching home, the noble +seneschal kept his word. + +And now the ships tilted over the waters; and, after a voyage of ten +weeks, they reached the Port of Hieros, in front of a castle which, in +right of his spouse, belonged to the king's brother, the Count of Anjou. +Louis, however, was not inclined to land. In vain the queen and his +council advised him to disembark. + +'No,' said he, 'I will not land till I can do so on my own territory; I +will not disembark till I arrive at Aigues Mortes.' + +Everybody looked extremely disappointed. + +'Seneschal,' said Louis, turning to Joinville, 'what is your opinion?' + +'Sire,' replied Joinville, 'it seems to me that you ought to land; for +Madame de Bourbon, being once in this very port, put again to sea to +land at Aigues Mortes, and she was tossed about for seven long weeks +before she could make that harbour.' + +'Seneschal,' said the king, 'you have persuaded me.' And soon after, to +the joy of the queen and all on board, Louis landed at Hieros, and with +Margaret and his children took up his residence in the castle, to rest +from his fatigues ere setting out for his own dominions. Indeed, the +saint-king was so weak, that Joinville had to carry him in his arms; and +for some time he could hardly support the weight of his armour, or +remain on horseback. + +But Louis had yet many years of life before him; and after repairing for +a time to recruit his health at Montpellier, where then, as in after +ages, the medical science eminently flourished, he in the autumn arrived +at Vincennes, and after prostrating himself before the altar of St. +Denis and restoring the oriflamme to the abbot, he proceeded to Paris, +where he was received with profound respect. But the saint-king bore on +his brow traces of the sorrow caused by the multiplied disasters of his +expedition, and still wore the symbol of salvation on his shoulder, as +if to intimate that he was not yet done with the Holy Land. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +A ROYAL VISIT. + + +THE countenance of the King of France did not belie his heart. He was +sad, and much more dejected than when he was in captivity and chains at +Mansourah, bullied by the Saracens, and threatened with the bernicles. +Nor was there any affectation in his continuing to wear the cross on his +shoulder; as he proved, sixteen years later, when he undertook his +ill-fated expedition to Tunis, and died, on a bed of ashes, amid the +ruins of Carthage, looking up to heaven, and exclaiming with his latest +breath, 'I will enter into Thy house; I will worship in Thy holy +tabernacle!' + +Meanwhile the saint-king appeared inconsolable, and refused to be +comforted. Even the affectionate welcome accorded him by his people +failed to dispel his gloom or cheer his soul. Day and night he brooded +over his defeats and disasters, and sighed dolefully as his memory +recalled the humiliation to which, in his person, the cause of +Christianity had been exposed at the hands of the Moslem. + +Fortunately, at that time, Henry, King of England, being at Bordeaux, +offered Louis a visit; and the saintly monarch, rousing himself to +welcome his royal brother-in-law, made preparations for his reception. +Moreover, when Henry's approach was announced, Louis mounted and went +forth to meet his guest; and, ere long, the King of England with a +magnificent train appeared in sight. + +Henry was considerably older than Louis. Indeed, he had now attained the +age of forty-seven. But his frame was vigorous; he had always enjoyed +robust health; and, as he had taken life easily, time and trouble had +not wrought so much havoc on him as on the French monarch. He was of the +middle height, and compactly built, and would have been accounted +handsome, but that one of his eyelids hung down in such a way as to +conceal part of the eyeball, and rather spoiled a face which otherwise +would have been pleasant to look upon. But, such as his person was, +Henry did not neglect its adornment. He had all a Plantagenet's love of +splendour, and the gorgeousness of his dress was such as to excite the +wonder of his contemporaries. By his right hand rode his spouse, Eleanor +of Provence, sister of the Queen of France, no longer young, but still +preserving, in face and form, much of the beauty and grace which, twenty +years earlier, made the name of the second daughter of Raymond Berenger +celebrated at the courts of Europe. + +Behind the King and Queen of England, on a black steed, which he +bestrode with remarkable grace, rode their son, Edward, taller by the +head and shoulders than other tall men, and already, though not out of +his teens, renowned as one of the bravest and handsomest princes in +Christendom. With him was his very juvenile wife, Eleanor of Castille, +whom he had recently espoused at Burgos, and brought over the Pyrenees +to Bordeaux, on his way to England. + +But the procession did not stop here; for, as the chronicler tells us, +'the King of England had in his own retinue a thousand handsome horses, +ridden by men of dignity and rank, besides waggons and sumpter cattle, +as well as a large number of choice horses, so that the unusual novelty +of the array caused great astonishment to the French.' + +The meeting of the two kings was all that could have been desired by the +most enthusiastic advocate of the French alliance who could have been +found in England; and, 'at sight of one another, they rushed into each +other's arms, and after mutual greeting, entered into conversation.' +Naturally enough, the first subject on which they touched was the +crusade from which Louis had just returned; and the saint-king seemed +relieved to meet with a man to whom he could, without derogating from +his dignity, unbosom his griefs. + +'My friend,' said Louis, mournfully, 'you cannot imagine how pleasant +your voice is to my ears; let us enjoy ourselves in talking together, +for never, perhaps, shall we have such an opportunity. In truth,' added +he, as they rode on side by side towards Paris, 'it is no easy matter to +tell how much bitterness of spirit I endured while on my pilgrimage +through love of Christ.' + +'I believe it, Louis, my cousin,' said Henry quickly. + +'And yet,' continued Louis, 'albeit everything turned against me, I +return thanks to the Most High; for, on reflection, I rejoice more in +the patience which God granted me, than if the whole world were to be +made subject to my rule. And yet, my friend, when I think of all my +mishaps, my heart saddens and my soul is heavy.' + +'Cousin,' said Henry, kindly, 'beware of casting yourself into a +life-wearying sorrow; for holy men will tell you that it is the +stepmother of souls, and that it absorbs spiritual joy, and generates +prejudice to the Holy Spirit. Recall to your mind the patience of Job, +the endurance of Eustace.' And Henry proceeded to relate much that he +knew, and much that he did not comprehend, of the history of both, and +how, in the end, God rewarded them. + +'My friend,' said Louis, 'if I were the only one to suffer the trouble +and disgrace, and if my sins did not fall on the church universal, I +could bear all with equanimity; but, woe is me, through me the whole of +Christendom is enveloped in confusion and shame.' + +'And, cousin,' said Henry, 'I perceive that you still wear the symbol of +the cross on your raiment.' + +'I do,' replied Louis, 'because I have not concluded my pilgrimage; I +have only suspended it; therefore bear I the sacred symbol. And you +also, Henry, you have taken the cross, and vowed to fight for the Holy +Sepulchre.' + +'Cousin,' answered Henry, gravely, but frankly, 'when I heard that you +were a prisoner in the hands of the Saracens, I did take the cross and +vow to go to the rescue; but now that, by God's grace, you are at +liberty, I cannot but think that it is my duty to remain at home and +minister to the welfare of my subjects.' + +'And yet,' urged Louis, 'we are told that he who will not take up his +cross and come with me, is not worthy of me; and I know you, Henry, to +be a man who, albeit you are negligent in punishing Jews and heretics, +are distinguished for attention to the things that belong to your +eternal peace, and by your devotion to the Lord.' + +'In truth, cousin,' replied Henry, not sorry perhaps, to leave the +subject of the crusade, 'I am regular, at least, in my religious +exercises; for it is my custom, every day, to hear three masses, with +the notes, and, as I wish to hear more, I assiduously assist at the +celebration of private masses; and when the priest elevates the Host, I +usually hold the hand of the priest and kiss it.' + +'Nevertheless, my friend,' remarked Louis, 'I cannot but deem that the +attention ought not always to be devoted to the hearing of masses, but +that we ought to hear sermons as often as possible.' + +'Mayhap,' said Henry. 'And yet, by God's help, I would rather see a +friend often than hear of him, even although I should hear nothing +spoken of him but good.' + +As the two kings conversed they entered Paris side by side, and the +sight which met the eyes of the English might well, indeed, raise their +admiration. The city, with its squares and bridges and churches and +houses built of gypsum, was splendidly decorated with bowers of leaves +and flowers; many of the mansions were three and four storeys in height, +and the windows were crowded with people of both sexes, gaily dressed, +and excited with the spectacle. Everything wore a holiday guise; and the +citizens and the scholars of the University, especially those of English +birth, suspending their readings and disputations, came forth in crowds, +carrying branches of trees, and attended by bands of music. Everybody +appeared eager to accord the royal guests a hearty welcome; and Louis, +after thanking the scholars for showing his friends so much honour, +turned to Henry. + +'My friend,' said he, 'I place Paris at your disposal. Where will you be +pleased to take up your abode? There is my palace in the middle of the +city; or, if you prefer taking up your residence at the Old Temple, +which is more roomy, it shall be so arranged.' + +'Verily,' answered Henry, 'I think I must choose the Old Temple; for I +hear it is roomy enough to lodge an army, and my company, as you see, is +somewhat numerous; and there it is my purpose to give a banquet on the +morrow, and I trust that you and your princes and nobles will honour it +with your presence.' + +'After which,' said Louis, 'you must come as my guest to my palace. Nay, +nay,' continued he, as Henry sought to excuse himself, 'let it be so: +for it is proper for me to perform all the duties of courtesy and +hospitality. In my own kingdom I am lord,' he added, with a smile; 'and +I will be master in my own house.' + +'On my faith,' said Walter Espec to Guy Muschamp, as gallantly the +brothers-in-arms rode in the train of the saint-king, 'this is a great +day for England!' + +'In truth it is,' replied Guy, gaily. 'Methinks there are Englishmen +enough in Paris to take the city.' + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +THE FEAST OF KINGS. + + +ON the day after the arrival of Henry and his queen in Paris, that +marvellous banquet, described as 'the feast of kings,' was given in the +great hall of the Old Temple; and a mighty entertainment it appears to +have been, if we are to judge from the description of the chronicler, +who tells us that 'never in times past was there given such a rich and +splendid banquet, even in the time of Esther, or of Arthur, or of +Charles.' Besides three kings--those of Navarre, and France, and +England, with their queens--there were present eighteen countesses, and +twenty-five counts, and twelve bishops; not to mention a host of noble +knights and ladies--knights illustrious for their valour, and ladies +celebrated for their beauty. + +As the guests were ranged according to their rank, some difficulty arose +as to who was to preside. Henry requested Louis to assume the post of +honour; but Louis protested. + +'It is more fitting,' said he, 'that the master of the feast should +occupy the chief seat.' + +'Not so, my lord king,' urged Henry. 'It is more becoming and proper +for you to sit in the middle; seeing that you are my sovereign and will +be so, for the reason is plain.' + +'Henry,' replied Louis, in a low voice, 'would that every one could +obtain his right without injury. But in your case,' added he, alluding +to Henry's claims on Normandy and Anjou, 'the pride of the French would +never permit it. But enough of this.' + +Now it happened that the great hall was, according to the continental +custom, hung around with as many bucklers as the four walls would hold, +and among them was the shield of Coeur de Lion; and when the feast was +drawing to a close, the company began to look around and examine them. + +'My lord,' said the Count of Anjou, jocularly addressing Henry, 'why +have you invited the French to dine with you in this house of all +others? See, there is the shield of the lion-hearted King Richard. I +marvel that your guests have been able to eat without fear and +trembling.' + +Now this remark, uttered as it was in a tone of irony, was calculated to +excite unpleasant sensations, and to recall disagreeable reminiscences; +and Henry looked mortified, and Prince Edward threw his magnificent head +disdainfully backward. But Louis, ever on the watch, hastened to soothe +their rising ire. + +'Would to God, Henry!' said he, earnestly, 'that the twelve peers of +France and the barons would agree to my wishes. We should then be +inseparable friends.' + +'I believe it, Louis, my cousin,' exclaimed Henry, quickly. + +'I grieve, my Lord knows,' continued Louis, 'that our feelings of +affection cannot be cemented on all points; but I cannot bend the +obstinacy of my barons; and therefore I perceive plainly that you will +never recover your rights.' + +'Nay, the future is with God and his saints,' said Henry; who, pacific +as he was, by no means relished the idea of the Plantagenets being +perpetually excluded from their inheritance. 'Meanwhile, cousin, there +is peace between us, and let not the feast flag.' + +'Henry,' said Louis, pausing, as he approached a painful subject, 'it +grieves me sore to think that, of all the English who landed with me at +Damietta, few, indeed, escaped the carnage of Mansourah. Nevertheless, I +have brought home with me two English squires, who are anxious to return +to their own country, and whom I would fain recommend to your gracious +protection.' + +'Cousin,' said Henry, responding with readiness and sympathy, 'for your +sake I will both protect and honour them.' + +Walter Espec and Guy Muschamp were immediately summoned, and, marching +up the great hall between the tables, approached the two kings and bent +their knees. + +'Both of them,' explained Louis, mildly, 'have rendered good services, +and encountered great perils, and undergone great sufferings for the +cross. One saved my brother, the Count of Poictiers, from captivity; and +the other saved my kinswoman, Adeline de Brienne, from still worse +evils.' And the king looked towards the noble demoiselle, who, princess +as she was, felt her heart beat rapidly, and was under the necessity of +making a strong effort not to betray the interest which she felt in the +fortunes of the young warrior, with whose fate, she had convinced +herself, since the rescue at Passe-Poulain, her own was strangely +intermingled. + +'Wherefore,' continued Louis, 'I would fain, ere parting with them, give +them a token of my appreciation of their piety, and the courage they +have shown in hours of danger and disaster, as I have already admonished +them how to act towards their God and their neighbour. Kneel.' + +And as they obeyed, Louis gave each of them three blows on the shoulder +with the flat of his weapon, mentioning the name of each, and repeating +the formula--'In the name of God, of St. Michael, and St. George, I dub +thee knight. Rise up, Sir Walter Espec, and Sir Guy Muschamp.' + +And as Walter and Guy rose to their feet, blushing with this new and +unexpected honour, Louis added-- + +'And now you will accompany your king to England, and lose no time in +winning your spurs, so as to justify me, in the eyes of men, for having +thus distinguished you.' + +'By St. George, cousin,' said Henry, laughing, 'I fear me that their +patience will be put to the test; for at present I have not an enemy +against whom to lead such redoubted warriors.' + +'My lord and father,' said Prince Edward, interposing, 'if the young +knights will enter my service, I will undertake to find them enough of +work to keep their swords from rusting.' + +'I doubt it not, Edward,' replied Henry, seriously, 'I doubt it not;' +and, turning to Louis, he added by way of explanation, 'I have gifted my +son with the principality of Wales, and recommended him to employ his +youth in bringing the natives to obedience; and I know enough of the +Welsh to be aware that he has before him an arduous duty. Now, young +gentlemen,' said he, addressing Guy and Walter, 'will you take service +with the prince, and go to war under his banner?' + +'In truth, my lord,' answered Walter, 'nothing could be more to my mind +than so to do.' + +'And what say you, most doughty warrior?' said Henry, looking towards +the heir of the Muschamps. + +'My lord,' replied Guy, cheerfully, 'we are brothers in arms; and, as +says Walter, so say I.' + +And when Henry and Queen Eleanor left Paris, and took leave of Louis and +his court at Chartres to return to Bordeaux, Walter Espec and Guy +Muschamp rode off in Prince Edward's train; Guy, laughing as he thought +how much his new dignity would add to his importance when he reached his +father's castle, and Walter, casting many a look behind to catch a last +glance of Adeline de Brienne. + +And so ended the adventures of the Boy Crusaders. + + * * * * * + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1]Transcriber's Note: Although, generally, handwritten notes are not +preserved in the final text, the proofreaders so enjoyed this edition's +inscription that it was retained. An image can be seen in the html +version. + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +All instances of "Richard Coeur de Lion" used an oe-ligature. As this +cannot be represented in a plain text file, it is instead noted here. + +Both Djedile and Djedile were used in this text. + +Page 60, "Icingla" changed to "Icinglas" (blood of Icinglas) + +Page 65, words obscurred in original, "per xity" changed to "perplexity" +(in some perplexity) + +Page 65, " l" changed to "will" (will ever be such) + +Page 206, "Geoffery" changed to "Geoffrey" (Nile, and Geoffrey) + +Page 242, "Lovis" changed to "Louis" (King Louis from Acre) + +Page 281, "Posse-Poulain" changed to "Passe-Poulain" (the rescue at +Passe-Poulain) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Crusaders, by John G. 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