CHAPTER XVI.
A COUNCIL OF WAR.
ON the morning after the return of the Earl of Salisbury to Damietta,and the violent proceedings of the French Crusaders against the Englishcompanions of their expedition, King Louis summoned a council of war todeliberate on the measures most likely to lead to the conquest ofEgypt--the grand object of the saintly monarch's ambition.
By this time arrivals from various quarters had swelled the army that,under the banner of St. Denis, lay encamped at Damietta. Thither, underthe grand masters of their orders, had come the Templars and theHospitallers, whose discipline and knowledge of the East rendered themsuch potent allies. Thither had come the Duke of Burgundy, who hadpassed the winter in the Morea; and the Prince of Achaia, who forgot theperils surrounding the Latin empire of Constantinople, in his eagernessto combat the Moslem on the banks of the Nile; thither, recovered fromtheir fright, had come the Crusaders whose vessels the storm had drivenon the Syrian coast; and thither, with the _arriere ban_ of France,Alphonse, Count of Poictiers--'one of that princely quaternion ofbrothers which came hither at this voyage, and exceeded each other insome quality--Louis the holiest, Alphonse the subtlest, Charles thestoutest, and Robert the proudest.' No fewer than sixty thousandmen--twenty thousand of whom were cavalry---were now encamped around theoriflamme; and with such an army, led by such chiefs, the saint-kingwould have been more than mortal if he had not flattered himself withthe hope of accomplishing something great, to be recorded by chroniclersand celebrated by minstrels.
And the princes and nobles assembled to hold a council of war; andLouis, with his crown on his brow, took his place to preside, with thatserene dignity which distinguished him. But, ere the proceedings began,the Earl of Salisbury rose, and intimated his desire to address the kingon a subject of great importance. Louis immediately signified consent;and the earl, raising his hand to ensure silence, proceeded with a calmbut resolute air:--
'Sire,' said he, 'I crave your pardon, and that of the princes and noblewarriors here assembled, for trespassing upon their time. But I havethat to state which demands your attention and interference, inasmuch asit nearly concerns the safety and welfare and honour of the army ofpilgrims, of which you are the recognised chief. Sire,' continued theearl, 'however others may plead ignorance of the circumstances, you, atleast, are fully informed and well aware that, in taking the Cross, andcoming from a distant land to aid you in the recovery of the HolySepulchre, I made sacrifices of no ordinary kind. My doing so exposedme to the wrath of King Henry, my kinsman and liege lord, who took fromme my earldom and all my substance. This, however, he did judicially,not in his anger, or any violence of self-will; and I do not blame him.But I came hither with my countrymen, and we have fought as faithfullyfor God's cause as any man in your army. Nevertheless we have beenexposed to insults and injuries which brave men cannot long tolerate.The chief offender is your brother, the Count of Artois. I lay mycomplaint before you, and I ask you to judge between us. I promise toabide by your decision, and, if I am found to be in the wrong, to renderevery satisfaction for my fault. So help me God, and good St. George!'
Louis listened with attention to the earl's speech. Indeed, the grandeurof Longsword's aspect, and his eloquence, so frank and so manly,produced a strong impression both on the king and the assemblage, andmany of the French, notwithstanding their prejudices, murmuredapprobation.
'This English earl,' said they, 'speaks words of truth and soberness,and he asks nothing more than the justice that ought not to be denied tothe meanest man in the army of pilgrims.'
Louis, however, paused, and appeared to be in extreme perplexity.
'William Longsword,' he said, at length, 'you have spoken boldly; and Ido not deny that you have spoken the truth. The Lord, who is ignorant ofnothing, is aware of the injuries you have suffered. But what can I do?You know how serious an affair it would be for me to offend any of mynobles in the position in which I now am, and it therefore becomes youto exercise the patience becoming a soldier of the Cross.'
And now the Count of Artois started up, his face flushed and his limbstrembling with rage:
'King,' exclaimed he, in accents of menace, 'what mean you by the wordsyou have spoken? Do you defend this Englishman and take part with himagainst Frenchmen, who are of your own country and kindred?'
The countenance of Louis expressed more annoyance than he was in thehabit of exhibiting.
'Now, Longsword,' said he, turning with an imploring look to the earl,'you see the position of affairs, and how easily a quarrel might arise;and God forbid it should occur in an army of Christians. At such acrisis it is necessary to endure much for the sake of Christendom.'
'Sire,' exclaimed Longsword, giving way to his indignation, 'if this isthe only answer you can give to my complaint, I advise you to callyourself no longer a king; since you have no longer the privilege ofbeing obeyed, or of administering justice, or punishing offenders.' Andrising with a dignity which awed most of those present, he left thecouncil.
'Frenchmen,' said Louis, reproachfully, 'why do you persecute this man?What madness excites you?'
'I do it,' cried the Count of Artois, 'because I dislike the tailedEnglish, and because I think the army of Crusaders would be well purgedof them.'
But none present ventured to give the count the support he seemed toexpect; and the wise and prudent bent their brows, and intimated theirdisapprobation.
'The matter is too serious to be lightly spoken of,' said they,significantly; 'and this dispute is a sad presage of future events; andwell will it be if the anger of the Most High is not provoked by suchoffences.'
'And now,' said Louis, anxious to drop the subject, 'let us to thebusiness on which we assembled to deliberate. Let us consult on the lineof march, and on the measures to be taken for completing the conquest ofEgypt.'
'Sire,' said John de Valery, a baron, whose probity and courage were theadmiration of the army, 'it seems to me that the best and safest policyis to undertake the siege of Alexandria. That city has a commodiousport, where the fleet could find shelter, and where munitions andprovisions could be procured with facility. My voice, therefore, is formarching to Alexandria.'
Many of those whose experience in war was greatest--among whom were theMaster of the Temple and the Master of the Hospital---echoed John deValery's opinion.
'For my part,' said the Count of Artois, with his characteristicrashness, 'I dislike timid counsels. Why not at once attack Cairo, whichis the capital of Egypt? When you wish to kill the serpent,' added he,'you ought always to endeavour to crush his head. Then, I say, let us onto Cairo.'
A warm and somewhat angry discussion ensued; and Louis, having given hisopinion in favour of marching to Cairo, the project was adopted: and itwas resolved to leave Queen Margaret, with the Countesses of Artois,Poictiers, and Anjou, at Damietta, to send the fleet with provisions andengines of war up the Nile, and then to march with banners displayedalong the banks of the river.
'Gentlemen,' said Louis, as he dismissed the council, 'I feel assuredthat we shall have no reason to repent adopting the bolder of theprojects discussed this day; for, with an army of sixty thousand men,and the blessing of God on our endeavours, I see no reason to despair ofaccomplishing something great against the enemies of Christ.'
'Sire,' replied John de Valery, 'may God grant that your hopes berealised.'
And the nobles and princes separated to make the necessary preparationsfor marching to Cairo.
Little did they foresee the terrible circumstances under which many ofthem were to reach that city.