fort won by the Englishmen] There was not farre from Alexandria in Egypt a
strong fort or castle replenished with great Ladies and rich treasure of
the Saracens: which hold it chanced the sayd William Longespee with his
company of English soldiers to get, more by politique dexteritie then by
open force of armes, wherewith, he and his retinue were greatly enriched.
When the Frenchmen had knowledge hereof (they not being made priuie hereto)
began to conceive an heart burning against the English souldiers, and could
not speake well of them after that.
[Sidenote: A rich bootie also gotten by the Englishmen.] It hapned againe
not long after that the sayd William had intelligence of a company of rich
merchants among the Saracens going to a certaine Faire about the parts of
Alexandria, having their camels, asses and mules, richly loden with silkes,
precious jewels, spices, gold and silver, with cart loades of other wares,
beside victuall and other furniture, whereof the souldiers then stood in
great need: he having secret knowledge hereof, gathered all the power of
Englishmen unto him that he could, and so by night falling vpon the
merchants, some he slew with their guides and conducters, some he tooke,
some hee put to flight: the carts with the driuers, and with the oxen,
camels, asses and mules, with the whole cariage and victuals he tooke and
brought with him, losing in all the skirmish but one souldier and eight of
his seruitors: of whom notwithstanding some he brought home wounded to be
cured.
[Sidenote: The iniurie of the Frenchmen to our English.] This being knowen
in the Campe, foorth came the Frenchmen which all this while loytered in
their pauilions, and meeting this cariage by the way, tooke all the
foresayd praie whole to themselues, rating the said William and the
Englishmen for aduenturing and issuing out of the Campe without leaue or
knowledge of their Generall, contrary to the discipline of warre. William
said againe he had done nothing but he would answere to it, whose purpose
was to haue the spoyle deuided to the behoofe of the whole armie.
[Sidenote: Will. Longspee iustly forsaketh the French king.] When this
would not serue, hee being sore grieued in his minde so cowardly to be
spoyled of that which he so aduenturously had trauailed for, went to the
King to complaine: But when no reason nor complaint would serue by reason
of the proude Earle of Artoys the Kings brother, which vpon spight and
disdaine stood agaynst him, he bidding the King forewell sayd hee would
serue him no longer: and so William de Longespee with the rest of his
company breaking from the French hoste went to Achon. Vpon whose departure
the earle of Artoys sayd, Now is the army of French men well rid of these
tailed people, which words spoken in great despight were ill taken of many
good men that heard them.
But not long after, when the keeper of Cayro & Babylonia, bearing a good
mind to the Christian religion, and being offended also with the Souldan,
promised to deliuer the same to the French king, instructing him what
course was best for him to take to accomplish it, the king hereupon in all
haste sent for William Longespee, promising him a full redress of all his
iniuries before receiued: who at the kings request came to him againe, and
so ioyned with the French power.
After this, it happened that the French king passing with his armie
towardes Cayro aforesayd, came to the great riuer Nilus, on the further
part whereof the Soldan had pitched himselfe to withstand his comming ouer:
there was at this time a Saracen lately conuerted to Christ, seruing the
earle Robert the French kings brother, who told him of the absence of the
Soldan from his tents, and of a shallow foord in the riuer where they might
easily passe ouer. Whereupon the sayd earle Robert and the Master of the
Temple with a great power, esteemed to the third part of the army issued
ouer the riuer, after whom followed W. Longspee with his band of English
souldiers. These being ioyned together on the other side of the water,
encountred the same day with the Saracens remaining in the tents and put
them to the worst. Which victory being gotten, the French earle surprised
with pride and triumph, as though hee had conquered the whole earth, would
needs forward, diuiding himselfe from the maine hoste, thinking to winne
the spurres alone. To whom certain sage men of the Temple, giuing him
contrary counsell, aduised him not to do so, but rather to returne and take
their whole company with them, and so should they be more sure against all
deceits and dangers, which might be layed priuily for them. The maner of
that people (they sayd) they better knew, and had more experience thereof
then he: alledging moreouer their wearied bodies, their tired horses, their
famished souldiers, and the insufficiency also of their number, which was
not able to withstand the multitude of the enemies, especially at this
present brunt, in which the aduersaries did well see the whole state of
their dominion now to consist either in winning all or losing all.
Which when the proud earle did heare, being inflated with no lesse
arrogancy then ignorance, with opprobrious taunts reuiled them, calling
them cowardly dastards, and betrayers of the whole countrey, obiecting vnto
them the common report of many, which sayd, that the land of the holy
crosse might soone be woon to Christendome, were it not for rebellious
Templaries, with the Hospitalaries, and their followers.
To these contumelious rebukes, when the master of the Temple answered
againe for him and his fellowes, bidding him display his ensigne when he
would, and where he durst, they were as ready to follow him, as he to goe
before them. Then began William de Longespe the worthy knight to speake,
desiring the earle to giue eare to those men of experience, who had better
knowledge of those countreyes and people then he had, commending also their
counsell to be discreet and wholesome, and so turning to the master of the
Temple, began with gentle wordes to mittigate him likewise. The knight had
not halfe ended his talke, when the Earle taking his wordes out of his
mouth, began to fume and sweare, crying out of those cowardly Englishmen
with tailes: What a pure armie (sayd he) should we haue here, if these
tailes and tailed people were purged from it, with other like words of
villany, and much disdaine: [Sidenote: The worthy answere of William
Longspe to Earle Robert.] whereunto the English knight answering againe,
well, Earle Robert (said he) wheresoeuer you dare set your foote, my step
shall go as farre as yours, and (as I beleeue) we goe this day where you
shall not dare to come neere the taile of my horse, as in deede in the
euent it prooued true: for Earle Robert would needes set forward, weening
to get all the glory to himselfe before the comming of the hoste, and first
inuaded a litle village or castle, which was not farre off, called Mansor.
The countrey Boores and Pagans in the villages, seeing the Christians
comming, ranne out with such a maine cry and shout, that it came to the
Soldans hearing, who was neerer then our men did thinke. In the meane time,
the Christians inuading and entring into the munition [Footnote:
Fortification.] incircumspectly, were pelted and pashed [Footnote: "That
can be cut with any iron, or pashed with mighty stones." CHAPMAN _Iliad_,
xiii., 297.] with stones by them which stood aboue, whereby a great number
of our men were lost, and the armie sore maymed, and almost in despaire.
Then immediatly vpon the same, commeth the Soldan with all his maine power,
which seeing the Christian armie to be deuided, and the brother separated
from the brother, had that which he long wished for, and so inclosing them
round about, that none should escape, had with them a cruell fight.
Then the earle beganne to repent him of his heady rashnes, but it was too
late, who then seeing William the English knight doughtily fighting in the
chiefe brunt of the enemies, cried vnto him most cowardly to flie, seeing
God (saith he) doth fight against vs: To whom the Knight answering againe,
God forbid (sayth he) that my fathers sonne should runne away from the face
of a Saracene. [Sidenote: The cowardly flight of Earle Robert.] The Earle
then turning his horse, fled away, thinking to auoid by the swiftnes of his
horse, and so taking the riuer Thafnis, oppressed with harnesse, was there
sunken and drowned.
Thus the Earle being gone, the Frenchmen began to dispaire and scatter.
[Sidenote: The valiant ende of William Longespe.] Then William de Longespe
bearing all the force of the enemies, stoode against them as long as he
could, wounding and slaying many a Saracen, till at length his horse being
killed, and his legges maymed, he could no longer stande, who yet
notwithstanding as he was downe, mangled their feete and legges, and did
the Saracens much sorrow, till at last after many blowes and wounds, being
stoned of the Saracens, he yeelded his life. And after the death of him,
the Saracens setting vpon the residue of the armie, whom they had compassed
on euery side, deuoured and destroyed them all, insomuch that scarce one
man remained aliue, sauing two Templaries, one Hospitaler, and one poore
rascall souldier, which brought tidings hereof to the King.
And thus by the imprudent and foolish hardines of that French Earle, the
Frenchmen were discomfited, and that valiant English Knight ouermatched, to
the griefe of all Christian people, the glory of the Saracens, and the
vtter destruction and ruine of the whole French armie, as afterwards it
appeared.
* * * * *
The Voyage of Prince Edward the sonne of king Henry the third into Asia, in
the yeere 1270.
About the yeere of our Lord, 1267. Octobonus the Popes Legate being in
England, prince Edward the sonne of king Henry, and other Noble men of
England tooke vpon them the crosse vpon S. Iohn Baptists day, by the sayd
Legates hands at Northampton, to the reliefe of the Holy land, and the
subuersion of the enemies of the crosse of Christ. For which purpose, and
for the better furnishing of the prince towards the iourney, there was
granted him a subsidie throughout all the realme, and in the moneth of May,
in the yeere of our Lord 1270. he began to set forward.
At Michælmas following he with his company came to Eguemortes, which is
from Marsilia eight leagues Westward, and there taking ship againe (hauing
a mery and prosperous wind) within ten dayes arriued at Tunez, where he was
with great ioy welcommed, and entertained of the Christian princes that
there were to this purpose assembled, as of Philip the French King, whose
father Lodouicus died a litle before, of Carolus the king of Sicilia, and
the two kings of Nauarre and Arragon, and as this lord Edward came thither
for his father the king of England, thither came also Henry the sonne of
the king of Almaine for his father, who at his returne from the voyage was
slaine in a chappell at Viterbium.
When prince Edward demanded of these kings and princes what was to be done,
they answered him againe and sayd, the prince of this citie and the
prouince adioyning to the same hath bene accustomed to pay tribute vnto the
king of Sicily euery yere: and now for that the same hath bene for the
space of seuen yeeres vnpaied and more, therefore we thought good to make
invasion vpon him. But the king knowing the same tribute to be but iustly
demaunded, hath now according to our owne desire satisfied for the time
past, and also paid his tribute before hand.
Then sayd he, My Lords, what is this to the purpose? are we not here all
assembled, and haue taken vpon vs the Lords Character to fight against the
infidels and enemies of Christ? What meane you then to conclude a peace
with them? God forbid we should do so, for now the land is plaine and hard,
so that we may approch to the holy city of Ierusalem. Then said they, now
haue we made a league with them, neither is it lawful for vs to breake the
same. But let vs returne againe to Sicilia, and when the winter is past we
may well take shipping to Acra. But this counsel nothing at all liked him,
neither did he shew himselfe wel pleased therewith: but after hee had made
them a princely banket, he went into his closet or priuy chamber from
amongst them, neither would be partaker of any of that wicked money which
they had taken. They notwithstanding continuing their purpose, at the next
mery wind tooke shipping, and for want of ships left 200. of their men a
shore, crying out, and pitiously lamenting for the peril and hazard of
death that they were in: wherewith prince Edward being somewhat mooued to
compassion: came backe againe to the land, and receiued and stowed them in
his owne ships, being the last that went aboord.
Within seuen dayes after, they arriued in the kingdom of Sicilia, ouer
agaynst the Citie Trapes, [Footnote: Trapani, N.E. of Marsala.] casting
their ankers a league from thence within the sea, for that their shippes
were of great burden, and throughly fraught: and from the hauen of the city
they sent out barges and boates to receiue and bring such of the Nobilitie
to land as would, but their horses for the most part, and all their armour
they kept still within boord.
At length towards the euening the sea began to be rough, and increased to a
great tempest and a mightie: insomuch that their ships were beaten one
against anothers sides, and drowned. There was of them at that tempest
lying at anker more then 120. with all their armour and munition, with
innumerable soules besides, and that wicked money also which they had taken
before, likewise perished, and was lost.
But the tempest hurt not so much as one ship of prince Edwards, who had in
number 13. nor yet had one man lost thereby, for that (as it may be
presupposed) he consented not to the wicked counsell of the rest.
When in the morning the princes and kings came to the sea side, and saw all
their ships drowned, and saw their men and horses in great number cast vpon
the land drowned, they had full heauie hearts, as well they might, for of
all their ships and mariners, which were in number 1500. besides the common
souldiers, there was no more saued then the manners of one onely ship, and
they in this wise.
There was in that ship a good and wise Matrone, a Countesse or an Erles
wife, who perceiuing the tempest to grow, and fearing her selfe, called to
her the M. of the ship, and asked him whether in attempting to the shoare
it were not possible to saue themselues: he answered, that to saue the ship
it was impossible: howbeit the men that were therein by Gods helpe he
doubted not. Then sayd the countesse, for the ship force no whit, saue the
soules therein, and haue to thee double the value of the shippe: who
immediatly hoising the sailes with all force, ran the shippe aground so
neere the shore as was possible, so that with the vehemency of the weather
and force he came withall, he brast the ship and saued all that was within
the same, as he had shewed, and sayd before.
Then the kings and princes (altering their purpose after this so great a
shipwracke) returned home againe euery one vnto their owne lands: onely
Edward, the sonne of the king of England, remained behinde with his men and
ships, which the Lord had saued and preserued.
[Sidenote: The arriual of Prince Edward at Acra.] Then prince Edward
renouating his purpose, tooke shipping againe, and within fifteene daies
after Easter arriued he at Acra, and went a land, taking with him a
thousand of the best souldiers and most expert, and taried there a whole
moneth, refreshing both his men and horses, and that in this space he might
learne and know the secrets of the land. [Sidenote: Nazareth taken by the
prince.] After this he tooke with him sixe or seuen thousand souldiers, and
marched forward twenty miles from Acra, and tooke Nazareth, and those that
he found there he slew, and afterward returned againe to Acra. But their
enemies following after them, thinking to haue set vpon them at some streit
or other advantage, were espied by the prince, and returning againe vpon
them gaue a charge, and slew many of them, and the rest they put to flight.
[Sidenote: A victorie against the Saracens wherein 1000 of them are
slaine.] After this, about Midsummer, when the prince had vnderstanding
that the Saracens began to gather at Cakow which was forty miles from Acra,
he marching thither, set vpon them very earely in the morning, and slew of
them more then a thousand, the rest he put to flight, and tooke rich
spoiles, marching forward till they came to a castle named Castrum
peregrinorum, situate vpon the sea coast, and taried there that night, and
the next day they returned againe toward Acra.
In the meane season the king of Ierusalem sent vnto the noble men of
Cyprus, desiring them to come with speed to ayd the Christians, but they
would not come, saying they would keepe their owne land, and go no further.
[Sidenote: The Princes of Cyprus acknowledge obedience to the kings of
England.] Then prince Edward sent vnto them, desiring that at his request
they would come and ioyne in ayd with him: who immediatly thereupon came
vnto him with great preparation and furniture for the warres, saying, that
at his commandement they were bound to do no lesse, for that his
predecessors were sometimes the gouernors of that their land, and that they
ought alwayes to shew their fidelity to the kings of England.
Then the Christians being herewith animated, made a third voyage or road,
and came as farre as the fort called Vincula sancti Petri, and to S.
Georgius, and when they had slain certaine there, not finding any to make
resistance against them, they retired againe from whence they came: when
thus the fame of prince Edward grew amongst his enemies, and that they
began to stand in doubt of him, they deuised among themselues how by some
pollicy they might circumuent him, and betray him. Whereupon the prince and
admirall of Ioppa sent vnto him, faining himselfe vnder great deceit
willing to become a Christian, and that he would draw with him a great
number besides, so that they might be honorably entertained and vsed of the
Christians. This talke pleased the prince well, and perswaded him to finish
the thing he had so well begun by writing againe, who also by the same
messenger sent and wrote backe vnto him diuers times about the same matter,
whereby no mistrust should spring.
This messenger (sayth mine author) was one ex caute nutritis, one of the
stony hearted, that neither feared God nor dreaded death.
The fift time when this messenger came, and was of the princes seruants
searched according to the maner and custome what weapon and armour he had
about him, as also his purse, that not so much as a knife could be seene
about him, he was had vp into the princes chamber, and after his reuerence
done, he pulled out certaine letters, which he deliuered the prince from
his lord, as he had done others before. This was about eight dayes after
Whitsuntide, vpon a Tuesday, somewhat before night, at which time the
prince was layed vpon his bed bare headed, in his ierkin for the great heat
and intemperature of the weather.
When the prince had read the letters, it appeared by them, that vpon the
Saturday next following, his lord would be there ready to accomplish all
that he had written and promised. The report of these newes by the prince
to the standers by, liked them well, who drew somewhat backe to consult
thereof amongst themselues. [Sidenote: Prince Edward traiterously wounded.]
In the meane time, the messenger kneeling, and making his obeisance to the
prince (questioning further with him) put his hand to his belt, as though
he would haue pulled out some secret letters, and suddenly he pulled out an
enuenomed knife, thinking to haue stroken the prince in the belly therewith
as he lay: but the prince lifting vp his hand to defend the blow, was
striken a great wound into the arme, and being about to fetch another
stroke at him, the prince againe with his foot tooke him such a blow, that
he feld him to the ground: with that the prince gate him by the hand, and
with such violence wrasted the knife from him, that he hurt himselfe
therewith on the forehead, and immediately thrust the same into belly of
the messenger and striker, and slew him.
The princes seruants being in the next chamber not farre off, hearing the
busling, came with great haste running in, and finding the messenger lying
dead in the floore, one of them tooke vp a stoole, and beat out his brains:
whereat the prince was wroth for that he stroke a dead man, and one that
was killed before.
But the rumour of this accident, as it was strange, so it went soone
thorowout all the Court, and from thence among the common people, for which
they were very heauy, and greatly discouraged. To him came also the
Captaine of the Temple, and brought him a costly and precious drinke
against poison, least the venime of the knife should penetrate the liuely
blood, and in blaming wise sayd vnto him: did I not tell your Grace before
of the deceit and subtilty of this people? Notwithstanding, said he, let
your Grace take a good heart, you shall not die of this wound, my life for
yours. But straight way the Surgions and Physicians were sent for, and the
prince was dressed, and within few dayes after, the wound began to
putrifie, and the flesh to looke dead and blacke: wherupon they that were
about the prince began to mutter among themselues, and were very sad and
heauy.
Which thing, he himself perceiuing, said vnto them: why mutter you thus
among your selues? what see you in me, can I not be healed? tell me the
trueth, be ye not afrayd. Whereupon one sayd vnto him, and it like your
Grace you may be healed, we mistrust not, but yet it will be very painfull
for you to suffer. May suffering (sayd he againe) restore health? yea sayth
the other, on paine of losing my head. Then sayd the prince, I commit my
selfe vnto you, doe with me what you thinke good.
Then sayd one of the Physicians, is there any of your Nobles in whom your
Grace reposeth special trust? to whom the prince answered Yea, naming
certeine of the Noble men that stood about him. Then sayd the Physician to
the two, whom the prince first named, the Lord Edmund, [Marginal note: The
lord Edmond was the prince his brother.] and the lord Iohn Voisie, And doe
you also faithfully loue your Lord and prince? Who answered both, Yea
vndoubtedly. Then sayth he, take you away this gentlewoman and lady
(meaning his wife) and let her not see her lord and husband, till such time
as I will you thereunto. Whereupon they tooke her from the princes
presence, crying out, and wringing her hands. Then sayd they vnto her, Be
you contented good Lady and Madame, it is better that one woman should
weepe a little while, then that all the realme of England should weepe a
great season.
Then on the morrow they cut out all the dead and inuenimed flesh out of the
princes arme, and threw it from them, and sayd vnto him: how cheereth your
Grace, we promise you within these fifteene dayes you shall shew your selfe
abroad (if God permit) vpon your horsebacke, whole and well as euer you
were. And according to the promise he made the prince, it came to passe, to
the no little comfort and admiration of all his subiects.
When the great Souldan heard hereof, and that the prince was yet aliue, he
could scarsely beleeue the same, and sending vnto him three of his Nobles
and Princes, excused himselfe by them, calling his God to witnesse that the
same was done neither by him nor his consent. Which princes and messengers
standing aloofe off from the kings sonne, worshipping him, fell flat vpon
the ground: you (sayd the prince) do reuerence me, but yet you loue me not.
But they vnderstood him not, because he spake in English vnto them,
speaking by an Interpreter: neuerthelesse he honourably entertained them,
and sent them away in peace.
Thus when prince Edward had beene eighteene moneths in Acra, he tooke
shipping about the Assumption of our Lady, as we call it, returning
homeward, and after seuen weekes he arriued in Sicilia at Trapes, and from
thence trauailed thorow the middes of Apulia, till he came to Rome, where
he was of the Pope honorably entertained.