The History of the Holy War, Book 4 · Chapter 18
Chap. 18. King Lewis exchanged for Damiata, stayeth some yeares at Ptolemais.
BUt return to Egypt; where King Lewis was kept prisoner by Melechsala, who often felt his disposition about the resigning of Damiata, but found that to heare of death was more welcome musick unto him.
But see here a sudden alteration: One Tarqueminus a sturdy Mamaluke, with another of that society, killed Melechsala in the very height of his victorious happinesse, and succeeded him in the Egyptian Kingdome. This Tarquemine came in with an intent to send Lewis the same way: Which poore Prince was onelyonly armed with innocence and majesty, and yet his bare person defended his person from that cruel attempt: such an awfull impression did his very presence, saith my Authour, strike into him who would have stricken him. But we may rather think that the city of Damiata was King Lewis his corslet, and that all the towres and walls of that place fensed him; Tarqueminus reserving his person as an equivalent ransome, thereby to redeem that royall citie.
Now Lewis had changed his Lord, but not his lamentable condition, continuing still a prisoner. At last he was restored to his liberty, on condition, that the Christians should surrender Damiata, and he also pay back to the Turks many thousand pounds, both for ransome of Christian captives, and in satisfaction of the vastations they had committed in Egypt. Lewis for security of this money, pawned to the Turk the Pyx and Host (that is, the body of Christ transsubstantiated in the Eucharist) as his chiefest jewel which he should be most carefull to redeem. Hence, in perpetuall memory of this conquest, we may see a *Du Serres, in the life of Lewis the 9.Wafer-cake and a Box alwayes wrought in the borders of that tapestry which is brought out of Egypt.
Note by the way, that the Turks were most unreasonable in their rates of ransoming souldiers, and in all other their pecuniary demands. For their own countrey being neare to the fountain of gold and silver, they made as if it flowed as plentifully in other places, measuring the wealth of other lands by their own, and asking as much for a private mans ransome as would drain a Princes purse in these Western parts.
Thus was Damiata restored again to the Turks, and the Christians punctually performed their promises; though the false Miscreant on the other side set not half the captives free, killed all the sick persons whom by promise he should relieve, and (contrary to the agreement) suffered not any Christian to transport any of his goods out of Egypt.
Hence Lewis sailed to Ptolemais: where he lived in a miserable case, being forsaken of his brothers, subjects, friends, and the Pope himself. His brothers, Alphonse and Charles, though sent into France to solicite his suit, and to advance his ransome with speed, yet being arrived forgot the affliction of Joseph; and the King was as farre from their mind as their sight: Wherefore God justly visited Alphonse with an incurable disease. His subjects, though furious at first in bemoning him, yet the fit past, complained not so much for him as on him; charging him for ill managing the matters in Egypt by his cowardlinesse and indiscretion. His friends, the Pisans and Genoans, reviled him as the marrer of their mart, Damiata being formerly their most gainfull port; but now their hony was spoiled by destroying the hive: For the Sultan seeing the city taken twice of the Christians in short time, to prevent further dispute about it, took away the subject of the question, and rased it to the ground. The Pope forsook him: And though many intreated his Holinesse not to prosecute the Emperour Frederick any further, from whom Lewis expected all the beams of his comfort, yet he would heare of no submission from him, but sought finally to ruine him. OnelyOnly Blanch, King Lewis his mother, was carefull for her sonne, and laboured his cause day and night. But alas! her arms were too short to bring all ends together. And having gathered a considerable summe of money, and shipped it for Palestine, a tempest in a moment *Matth. Paris. pag. 1091.cast that away which her care and thrift was many moneths in getting. All this he bore with a soul not benummed with Stoicall senselessenesse, but becalmed with Christian patience:*Matth. Paris. pag. 1091. a second Job; so that what pleased God, pleased him. It somewhat mitigated his misery, that he had the company of his consort Margaret, a woman worthy so good a husband. Here she bore him a child, which because another Benoni, or Sonne of sorrow, was called Tristram. But that *Sr Tristram a Knight long before. See Carew, in Cornwall, fol. 61.name is more ancient, nor had it its birth from the christening of this child.
Foure yeares King Lewis lived (not to say, loitered) in Syria, daily expecting in vain that some Prince of Europe should fetch him off with honour, being loth to return till he could carry home his credit with him. And though he was out of his Kingdome, yet was he in his kingdome, whilest surveying there the sacred monuments wherewith he was so highly affected.