The History of the Holy War, Book 4 · Chapter 16
Chap. 16. King Lewis almost in the same place hath the same wofull successe, conquered and taken captive by Melechsala.
IT is easier to be conceived then expressed, what generall grief this dolefull news brought to the French; who followed not farre off, and who before had cause enough to sorrow for themselves: For the plague began to rage furiously amongst them, and daily swept away thousands. Mean time good King Lewis sent many of the weakest and impotentest people down the river to Damiata, there to enjoy the benefit of privacie, good attendance, and physick. Melechsala having intelligence hereof, met them by the way; and setting upon them (having neither arm to fight, nor legs to runne away) either burned or drowned them all, save one English man, Alexander Giffard (whose ancient and famous family flourisheth to this day at Chellington in Staffordshire) who wounded in five places of his bodie, escaped to the French, and reported what had happened to the rest.
And by this time Melechsala understood of the correspondency betwixt King Lewis and the governour of Cairo, for the betraying of the city: Whereupon he caused him suddenly to be apprehended; whereby the French King lost all hopes to obtain that place of importance. Yea, now full willingly would the Christians have accepted the terms formerly offered them; and now their hungry stomachs would make dainties of those conditions which before, when full of pride, they threw away as fragments. But the Turks now sleighted them as not worth the treating with; and as knowing that these Frenchmen, who at their first landing were more then men, would at last be lesse then women.
Then began the French Lords to perswade King Lewis to provide for the safety of his own person, and to return to Damiata. They told him, That if he stayed with them, there was no hope grounded on probability (and what was any other but a wilfull self-delusion?) of his escaping: If he were killed, his death would be a living shame to their religion; if taken prisoner, how would Mahomet insult over Christ! The captivity of the most Christian of the most Christian Kings would be foundation enough for the Turks thereon to build tropheys of eternall triumph. But Lewis would not leave them, that they might not leave him, but resolved to be a commoner with them in weal and wo; disdaining to be such a niggard of his life as not to spend it in a good cause in so good company.
Forward they march, and come to the fatall place where the last battel was fought. There behold the mangled, headlesse, handlesse, feetlesse corpses of their fellow-countreymen. They knew in generall they were all their friends; none knew his particular friend. The cause of this unwonted cruelty to the dead, was a proclamation which Melechsala made, assigning a great summe of money to every one who would bring the head, hand, or foot of a Christian: And this made many of his covetous cowards (who carried their valour in their purses) to be couragious. Whilest the French were here bemoning their fellows, Melechsala came upon them with an infinite multitude,Apr. 5. and put them all (being few and feeble) to the sword; taking King Lewis, with his two brethren, Alphonse and Charles, prisoners.
Instantly the Turks went up with French ensignes to Damiata, hoping so suddenly to surprise it. Which project had it took effect, then farewell King Lewis for ever. He must be sent a present to the Caliph of Babylon, from whom never any returned alive; Melechsala being but Purgatory, whence there was redemption; but the Babylonian Caliph Hell it self, from whence no hope of release. But God defeated their designe; for the Turks could not French it so handsomely, but that they were discovered. The very language of their hands made them suspected afarre off, because they could not counterfeit the French idiotismes in managing their bucklers, that nation being most punctuall and criticall in their military postures: But being come neare, it was plain for any to read Turk in their beards and complexions; so that they departed without having what they desired.