banks, and unmuzzling the river, let it runne open mouth upon
them; yet so, that at first they drowned them up but to the
middle, reserving their lives for a further purpose, thereby in
exchange to recover Damiata and their countreys liberty.
See here the land of Egypt turned in an instant into the Egy∣ptian
sea! See an army of sixty thousand, as the neck of one man,
stretched on the block, and waiting the fatall stroke! Many cur∣sed
the Legate, and their own rashnesse, that they should follow
the counsel of a gowned man (all whose experience was clasped
in a book) rather then the advice of experienced captains. But
too late repentance, because it soweth not in season, reapeth no∣thing
but unavoidable miserie.
Meladine King of Egypt seeing the constancy and patience of
the Christians, was moved with compassion towards them.
He had of himself strong inclinations to Christianity, wearie of
Mahometanisme, and willing to break that prison, but for
watchfull jaylers about him. He proferred the Christians their
lives on condition they would quit the countrey and restore Da∣miata.
They accepted the conditions, and sent messengers to Da∣miata
to prepare them for the surrendring of it. But they with∣in
the citie, being themselves safe on shore, tyrannized on their
poore brethren in shipwrack; pretending, That this armie of
Pilgrimes deserved no pity, who had invited this misfortune on
themselves by their own rashnesse; That if they yielded up this
citie for nothing, which cost so many lives, they should betray
themselves to the derision of the whole world; That if these
perished, more men might be had, but no more Damiata's; be∣ing
a place of such importance, it would alwayes be a snaffle in
the mouth of the Egyptian King. On the other side, the friends
of the distressed Christians confessed, That indeed their voyage
was unadvised and justly to be blamed; yet worse and more
inconsiderate projects have armies oft undertaken, which, if
crowned with successe, have been above censure, yea, have
passed not onely without questioning but with commendati∣ons:
But this is the misery of misery, that those who are most
afflicted of God, shall be most condemned of men. Wherefore
they requested them to pity their brethren, and not to leave
them in this forlorn estate. How clamorous would their inno∣cent
bloud be in the court of Heaven, to sue for revenge on
those who forsook them in this distresse! And grant Damiata
a citie of great consequence; yet cities in themselves were but
dead things, and men were the souls to enliven them: so that
those souldiers which wonne Damiata, if preserved alive, might
haply recover as strong a citie afterwards.
But finding their arguments not to prevail, they betook
themselves to arms, by force to compell the adverse party to