Chap. 18.

BUt to return to Egypt; where King Lewis was kept prisoner by Melechsala, who often felt his disposition about the resign∣ing of Damiata, but found that to hear of death was more wel∣come musick unto him.

But see here a sudden alteration: One Tarqueminus a sturdy Mammaluke, with another of that society, killed Melechsala in the very heighth of his victorious happinesse, and succeeded him in the Egyptian Kingdome. This Tarquemine came in with an in∣tent to send Lewis the same way: Which poor Prince was one∣ly armed with innocence and Majestie, and yet his bare person defended his person from that cruel attempt: such an awfull im∣pression 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 fenced him; Tarquemnius re∣serving 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 Page  199 pounds, both for ransome of Christian captives, and in satisfa∣ction 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 * 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 pecunia∣ry demands. For their own countrey being near to the foun∣tain 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 Chri∣stians 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 trans∣port any of his goods out of Egypt.

Hence Lewis sailed to Ptolemais: where he lived in a misera∣ble 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 sub∣jects, 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 in∣discretion. 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 their hive: for the Sultan seing 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 fur∣ther, from whom Lewis expected all the beams of his comfort, yet he would hear of no submission from him, but sought fi∣nally to ruine him. Onely Blanch, King Lewis his mother, was carefull for her sonne, and laboured his cause day and night. But alas! her armes 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* cast that away which Page  200 her care and thrift was many moneths in getting. All this he bore with a soul not benummed with Stoicall senslessenesse, but becalmed with Christian patience:* 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 wor∣thy so good a husband. Here she bore him a child, which be∣cause another Benoni, or sonne of sorrow, was called Tristram. But that* 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 King∣dome, yet was he in his Kingdome, whilest surveying there the sacred monuments wherewith he was so highly affected.