The History of the Holy War, Book 4 · Chapter 15
Chap. 15. Robert Earl of Artois fighting with the Egyptians contrary to the counsel of the Master of the Templars, is overthrown and drowned.
1250FRom Damiata the French marched up towards Cairo; the governour whereof offended with Melechsala, promised to deliver that regall citie to the French. With some danger and more difficulty they passed an arm of Nilus, being conducted by a fugitive Saracen to a place where it was foordable. Hence Earl Robert marched forward with a third part of the army, and suddenly assaulting the Turks in their tents (whilest Melechsala was absent in solemnizing a feast) put them to flight. Hereupon this Earl proclaimed himself in his hopes Monarch of the world: This blow made his enemies reel, the next would fell them: Now speed was more needfull then strength: This late victory, though gotten, was lost if not used: What though they were not many? the fewer the adventurers, the greater the gain: Let them therefore forwards, and set on the whole power of the Turks, which was incamped not farre off.
But the Master of the Templars,Matth. Paris. pag. 1049. in whom the sap of youth was well dried up, advised the Earl to stay and digest the honour he had gotten, expecting the arrivall of the rest of their armie: for the work was weighty they undertook, and needed two shoulders, the united strength of the Christians, effectually to manage it: His souldiers were weary, and must be refreshed; and it was madnesse to starve them to day in hope of a feast tomorrow: That they were to march through a strange countrey, and their best instructours were behind: let them stay for their lantern, and not go in the dark. He minded him that he overvalued his victory, not considering the enemies strength, whose harvest was not spoiled by losing an handfull of men.
But the Earl, full of the emptinesse of self-conceit, allowed no counsel for currant but that of his own stamp. He scorned to wait the leisure of another opportunity, and opprobriously objected to the *Matth. Paris pag. 1050.Templars the common fame, That the Holy land long since had been wonne, but for the collusion of the false Templars and Hospitallers with the Infidels.
Here the Earl of Sarisbury interposed himself to make peace, and to perswade Robert to listen to the wholesome counsel that was given him. But his good will was rewarded with Coward, Dastard, English-tail, and such like contumelious terms. Wherefore said our Earl, Well, Generall, on in Gods name; *Erimus (credo) hodie, ubi non audebis caudam equi mei attingere, Idem ibid.I beleeve this day you shall not dare to come nigh my horses tail. And now the touchstone must tell what is gold, what is brasse.
Marching on, they assaulted the castle of Mauzar, and were notably repulsed; and Melechsala coming in with his whole strength, hemmed them in on every side. The Christians were but the third part of the armie; and at the present, they themselves were scarce the half of themselves, being faint for want of refreshing. Yet never shall one reade more valour in so little a volume: They played their parts most stoutly. As for the French Earl who went on like thunder, he went out like smoke, crying to the Earl of Sarisbury, Flee, flee, for God fighteth against us. To whom our Earl, God forbid my fathers sonne should flee from the face of a Saracen. The other seeking to save himself by the swiftnesse of his horse, and crossing the river, had there water enough to drown him, but too little to wash from him the stain of rashnesse and cowardise. Thus died the Earl of Artois: who had in him the parts of a good Generall, but inverted and in transposition, bold in counsel, fearfull in execution. He was one of that princely quaternion of brothers which came hither at this voyage, and exceeded each other in some quality; Lewis the Holiest, Alphonse the Subtillest, Charles the Stoutest, and this Robert the Proudest.
As for the Earl of Sarisbury, he resolved to sell his life at such a rate that the buyer should little boast of his peny-worth, slaying many a Turk; and though unhorsed and wounded in his legs, stood on his honour when he could not stand on his feet; and refusing all quarter, upon his knees laid about him like a desperate man. The longer he fought, the fewer wounds he had; and there at last he breathed forth his soul in the midst of his enemies. Of all the Christians there escaped no more then two Templars, one Hospitaller, and one common souldier, the messengers of this heavy news.
The French writers, because they can say little good, say little of this battel, and lessen the overthrow as much as may be; which Authours of other nations have more fully reported. Thus sometimes unfortunate gamesters flatter themselves, belie their own purses, and dissemble their losses, whereof the standers by take more accurate notice. P. Aemylius (an Italian, born at Verona; but by long writing the French history his penne is made free denison of France) though with his hand he doth hide the orifice of the wound, yet it is too narrow to cover the whole sore round about: So that it plainly appeareth, that a great and grievous and most mortall blow was here given to the Christians.