The History of the Holy War, Book 3 · Chapter 25 – Chapter 26
Chap. 25. Damiata besieged and taken; The Christians unadvisedly refuse honourable conditions.
DAmiata is a chief haven of Egypt▪ 1218anciently Pelusium; seated on the Eastern-most stream of Nilus. Here the East and West world met together to exchange their wares; she grudging for trade to give the upper hand to Alexandria it self. At their landing *Matth. Paris. in Ioan. pag. 401.the moon was almost totally eclipsed:Iuly 9. whence the Christians conceited (ghesse the frailnesse of the building by the unconstancy of the foundation) that the overthrow of the Mahometanes (whose ensigne was the *Munster.Half-moon) was portended. But the calculatours of after-chances seldome hit right. In the siege of this citie they were to encounter with a fourefold difficulty, besides Damiata it self:
First, with a great chain crossing the harbour: which with indefatigable pains, and art mingled with labour, they brake asunder; industry in action being as importunity in speech, by continuall inculcation forcing a yeelding beyond the strength of reason.
Secondly, the river Nilus did much annoy them. This river (the height of whose flowing is the Egyptian Almanack, whereby they prognosticate future plenty or penury) now out of time and beyond measure drowned the countrey. Bold fishes swamme into the Christians tents, who took them with their hands,*Illis tamen deliciis catere maluissent, Matth. Paris. pag. 405. though willingly they could have wanted such dainties; for the sauce was more then the meat. Against this mischief they fensed themselves with prayer, and a publick fast enjoyned by the Legate; whereby the water soon abated. And lest Gods merciemercy herein, when gotten, should be forgotten, a publick thanksgiving was proclaimed, that this favour obtained by prayer might be kept by praises.
Thirdly, they were to grapple with the fort of Pharia, a seeming-impregnable place, betwixt them and Damiata. To check this fort, the Christians built a towre on ships: which suddenly falling, brained many, bruised more of their own men; and all who felt not the blow, were stricken with the fright. King John comforted his souldiers discouraged hereat, desiring them to apprehend actions by their true causes; and as not to vaunt of blind victories, so not to be dismayed at casuall mishaps, so purely accidentall, that there was no guard against them in the schools of defense, either of wisdome or valour. By his advice a more substantiall towre was built, the rarest piece in that kind the world ever saw;Aug. 24. by the manning whereof, after many bloudy assaults, they mastered the fort of Pharia.
Fourthly, they had to do with Meladine King of Egypt, who lay besides them, constantly furnishing the citie with men and victuals, and exercising the Christians with continuall skirmishes. In one, with his wild-fire he did them much harm, and King John was dangerously scorched. But seeing that the Christians hewed their way through the rocks of all difficulties,1219 he propounded peace unto them by the mediation of Noradine his brother,Febr. King of Damascus; profering them, if they would depart, to restore them the true Crosse, the citie of Jerusalem, and all the land of Palestine.
*P. Aemyl. pag. 201.The English, French, and Italians would have embraced the conditions, pleading, That honourable peace was the centre of warre, where it should rest; That they could not satisfie their conscience to rob these Egyptians of their lands without a speciall command from God; That it was good wisdome to take so desperate a debt whensoever the payment was tendred; otherwise, if they would not be content with their arms full, they might perchance return with their hands emptie.
But the Legate would no wayes consent, alledging this voyage was undertaken not onelyonly for the recovery of Palestine, but for the exstirpation of the Mahometane superstition. And herein no doubt he followed the instructions of his master, whose end in this warre was, That this warre should have no end, but be alwayes in doing though never done. He knew it was dangerous to stop an issue which had been long open; and would in no case close up this vent of people by concluding a finall peace. Besides, an old prophesie, *Magdeburg. Cent. 13. cap. 16. col. 692.That a Spaniard should win Jerusalem, and work wonders in those parts, made Pelagius that countrey-man more zealous herein. Coradine angry his profer was refused, beat down the walls of Jerusalem and all the beautifull buildings therein, save the towre of David and the temple of the Sepulchre.Nov. 5. Not long after, Damiata having been basieged one yeare and seven moneths, was taken without resistance; plague and famine had made such a vastation therein. The Christians entred with an intent to kill all; but their anger soon melted into pity, beholding the citie all bestrawed with corpses. The sight was bad, and the sent was worse; for the dead killed the living. Yea, Gods sword had left their sword no work: Of *P. Aemyl. pag. 203.threescore and ten thousand but three thousand remained; who had their lives pardoned on condition to cleanse the citie: which imployed them a quarter of a yeare. Hence the Christians marched and took the citie of Tanis; and soon after the Pope substituted *Magdeburg. pag. 693.John de Columna, a Cardinall, Legate in the place of Pelagius.
Chap. 26. New discords betwixt the King and the Legate; They march up to besiege Cairo.
GReat was the spoil they found in Damiata:1220 wherein, as in strong barred chests, the merchants of Egypt and India had locked up their treasure. A full yeare the Christians stayed here, contented to make this inne their home. Here arose new discords betwixt the King and the new Legate, who by vertue of his Legation challenged Damiata for his Holinesse, which by publick agreement was formerly assigned to the King. Bren in anger returned to Ptolemais, both to puff out his discontents in private, & to teach the Christians his worth by wanting him: For presently they found themselves at a losse; neither could they stand still without disgrace, nor go on without danger. The Legate commanded them to march up; but they had too much spirit to be ruled by a Spirituall man, and swore not to stirre a step except the King was with them. Messengers therefore were sent to Ptolemais to fetch him. They found him of a steelie nature; once through-hot, long in cooling: yet by promising him he should have his own desires, they over-perswaded him not to starve an armie by feeding his own humours.
Scarce after eight moneths absence was he returned to Damiata, but new divisions were betwixt them: The Legate perswaded the armie to march up and besiege Cairo; he promised, if they would obey him, they should quickly command all Egypt, by present invading it. Let defendants lie at a close guard, and offer no play. Delayes are a safe shield to save, but celerity the best sword to winne a countrey. Thus Alexander conquered the world before it could bethink it self to make resistance. And thus God now opened them a doore of victorie, except they would barre it up by their own idlenesse.
But the King advised to return into Syria; That Cairo was difficult to take, and impossible to keep; That the ground whereon they went, was as treacherous as the people against whom they fought; That better now to retire with honour, then hereafter flie with shame; That none but an empirick in warre will denie, but that more true valour is in an orderly well grounded retreat, then in a furious rash invasion.
But the Legate used an inartificiall argument drawn from the authority of his place, thundering excommunication against those that would not march forward: And now needs must they go when he driveth them.
The crafty Egyptians (of whom it is true, what is said of the Parthians, Their flight is more to be feared then their fight) ran away, counterfeiting cowardlinesse. The Christians triumphed hereat; as if the silly fish should rejoyce that he had caught the fisherman, when he had swallowed his bait. The Legate hugged himself in his own happinesse, that he had given so successefull advice. And now see how the garland of their victory proved the halter to strangle them.