Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

* The lamentable ouerthrow and slaughter of the French armey fighting agaynst the Infidels, through the sinister councell of the Popes Legate.

* 1.1TO make the story short, the king setting forward from Damiata, directed his iourny toward Kayra, slaying by the way such Saracens as there were set to stop the vi∣tailcs from Damiata. The Soldane in the meane tyme hearing of the couragious comming of the French host, as beyng in great hope to conquere all: sent vnto the king by certayne thrt were next about him, offering to the Chri∣stians the quyet and full possession of the holy land, with al the kingdome of Ierusalem, and more: besides other infi∣nite treasure of gold and siluer, or what els might pleasure them, onely vpon this condition they would restore again Damiata, with the captiues there, and so would ioyne to∣gether in mutuall peace and amitie. Also they should haue all their Christian captiues deliuered home, and so both coūtries should freely passe one to an other w^t their wares and traficke,* 1.2 such as they lifted to occupy. Furthermore it was also firmly affirmed & spokē, that the Soldan, with most of hys nobles were minded no lesse then to leaue the filthy law of Mahomet, and receaue the fayth of Christ so that they might quietly enioy their landes and possessi∣ons. The same day great quietnes had entred (no doubt) in all Christendome, with the end of much bloudshed and misery, had not bene for the pope and hys Legate, who (hauing commaundement from the Pope, that if any such offers should come, he shoulde not take them) stoutly & frontosè (as the words be of y^e story) cōtradicēs, in no wyse would receaue the conditions offered Parisiens. fol. 233.

Thus while the Christians vnprofitably lingered the tyme in debating this matter, the Soldan in the meane tyme got intelligēce of the compact betwene the Tribune of Kayra, and the French king: whereupon he sent in all hast to the Citty of Kayra, to apprehend the Tribune till y^e truth were fully tryed. which seemed to him more aparēt, for that the Christian prisoners were already deliuered. Hereupon the Soldan being in some better hope,* 1.3 and lesse feare, refused that which before he had offered to the Chri∣stians, albeit they with great instaunce afterward sued to the Soldan, and could not obteine it. Then the Soldan beyng wholy bent to try the matter by the sword, sent to the East partes for an infinite multitude of souldiours, ge¦uing out by Proclamation, that whosoeuer could bring in any Christen mans head, should haue x. talentes, besides his standing wages. And whosoeuer brought his right hand, should haue fiue. He that brought his foote, shoulde haue 2. talentes for his reward.

After these thiuges thus prepared on both sides to the necessitie of warre,* 1.4 the king commeth to the great Riuer Nilus, hauing gotten together many boats, thinking by them to passe ouer, as vpō a sure bridge. On the other side the Soldan pitcheth himselfe to withstand his comming ouer. In the meane tyme happened a certayne feast a∣mongst the Saracens, in which the Soldan was absent, leauing hys tentes by the water side. Whiche beyng fore∣seene by a certayn Saracen lately conuerted to Christ, ser∣uing with the Earle Robert the kings brother, and shew∣ing them withall a certayne shalow foorde in the Riuer of Nilus, where they might more easily passe ouer, the sayd Earle Robert & the Mayster of the Temple with a great power, esteemed to the third part of the armey, issued o∣uer the Riuer, after whome also followed William Long∣spath with hys band of English souldiours.* 1.5 These beyng together ioyned on the other side of the water,* 1.6 encounte∣red the same day with y^e Saracens remayning in the tents and put them to the worse. After this victorye gotten, the Frēch Earle surprised with pride and triumph, as though he had conquered the whole earth, would needes forward deuiding hymselfe from the mayne host, thinking to winn the spurres alone. To whome certayne sage men of the Temple,* 1.7 geuing contrary counsell aduised him not so to do, but rather to returne and take their whole company with them, and so should they be more sure agaynst all de∣ceites and daungers, which there might be layd priuely for thē. The maner of y^t people (they sayd) they better knewe, and had more experience therof then he: Alledgists moreo∣uer their weryed bodyes, their tyred horses, their famished souldiours, & the insufficiency also of their number, which was not able to withstand the multitude of the enemies, especiall at this present brunt, in whiche the aduersaries did well see the whole state of their dominion now to con∣sist eyther in winning all,* 1.8 or losing all: with ot••er such like wordes of perswasion. Which when the proud Earle dyd heare, being inflated with no lesse arrogance then ignorāce with opprobrious tauntes reuiled them, calling them co∣wardly bastardes, and betrayers of the whole countrey, obiecting vnto them the common report of many, whiche sayd, that the land of the holy Crosse might be wonne to Christendome were it not for the rebellious Templarics, with the Hospitalaries and their fellowes &c.

To these contumelious rebukes when the Maister of the Tēple answered againe for him and his felowes,* 1.9 bid∣ding him display his ensigne when he would, & where be durst, they were as ready to folow him, as he to go before thē: then began William de Longspath the worthy knight to speake, desiring the Earle to geue care to those men of experience, who had better knowledge of those coūtryes & people, then he had, commending also their councell to be discrete & wholesom: & so turning to y^e maister of the tem∣ple began w^t gentle words to mitigate him likewise. The knight had not halfe ended his talke, when the Earle ta∣king his words out of his mouth began to fume & sweare, crying out of these cowardly english mē with tailes. What a pure army (sayd he) should we haue here, if these tailes, & tayled people were purged from it? w^t other like wordes of great vilany and much disdayne. whereunto the english Knight aunswering agayne:* 1.10 well Earle Robert (sayd he) where soeuer you dare set your foot, my step shall goc as farre as yours: and as I beleue, we go this day where you shall not dare to come neare the taile of my horse, as in the euent it proued true. Ibid. fol. 236.

In this meane time, the French king intending to ad∣uannce forward his army, thought best to send away such as were feeble and lacked armor,* 1.11 to Damiata by boates. The Soldan hearing thereof, prepared a great number of boates to be caryed by wayne and carte to the water side, which meeting them by the way, drowned and destroyed by wildefire euery one, so that of all that company of our christians, of whom some were burned, some slayne, some drowned, not one escaped aliue, saue one onely Englishe man named Alexāder Giffard, who although he was sore woūded in the chase in fiue places in his body, yet escaped to the French cāpe, bringing word to the king what was done. And this was vpon the water.

Now vpō the land, seing Earle Robert would needs set forward,* 1.12 weening to get all the glory to himself before the comming of the hoste: first they inuaded a little village or castle, which was not farre of, called Mansor. The coū∣trey Bores and paganes in the villages by, seing the chri∣stians come, ranne out with such a mayne cry and shout, that it came to the Soldans hearing,* 1.13 which was nearer then our men did thinke. In the meane while the Christi∣ans inuading and entring into the munition incircum∣spectly, were pelted and pashed with stones by thē which stood aboue, whereby a great number of our men were lost, and the armye sore maimed and almost in despayre. Then immediately vpon the same cōmeth the Soldan w^t all hys mayne power, who seeing the Christens army to be deuided, and the brother seperated frō the brother, had that which he long wished for,* 1.14 and so inclosing them roūd about, that none should escape, had w^t them a cruell fight. Then the Earle began to repent him of hys heady rashe∣nes, but it was to late, who then seing William the Eng∣lish knight dowrely fighting in the chiefe brunt of the ene∣myes, cryed vnto hym most cowardly to flye, seeyng God (sayd he) doth fight agaynst vs.* 1.15 To whom the knight an∣swering agayne, God forbid (sayth he) that my fathers sonne should runne away from the face of a Saracen. The Earle then turning his horse fled away, thinking to auoid by the swiftnes of hys horse, & so taking the riuer of Thas∣nis, oppressed with harnes, was there sokē and drowned. Thus the Earle beyng gone, the French men began to dispayre and scatter. Then William de Longaspatha, bea∣ring all the force of the enemies, stood agaynst thē as long as he could,* 1.16 wounding and slaying many a Saracen, til at length hys horse being killed, and hys legges maymed, he could no longer stand: who yet notw^tstanding as he was downe, mangled their feete and legges, and did the Sara∣cens much sorow, till at last after many blowes & woūds, beyng stoned of the Saracens,* 1.17 he yelded hys life. After the death of him, then the Saracens setting vppon the residue of the army, whom they had compassed on euery side, de∣uoured

and destroyed them all, in so much that scarse one man escaped aliue, sauing two Templaries,* 1.18 one Hospitu∣lar, and one poore rascall souldiour, which•• brought ty∣dinges hereof to the king.

* 1.19These thinges being knowne in the French campe to the king and his souldiours, first of their drowning which were sent to Damiata, then of the ruine and slaughter of the army, with the kinges brother, by the towne of Man∣sor, there was no little sorrow and heauines on euery side, with great feare, and doubt in themselues, what was best to doc. At last when they sawe no remedye, but they must stand manfully to reuenge the bloud of their brethren, thē the kyng with hys host past ouer the floud of Nilus, and comming to the place where the battayle had bene,* 1.20 there they beheld theyr fellowes and brethren pitifully lying w^t theyr heads and hands cut of. For the Saracens for the re∣ward before promised by the Soldan or Sultan, to them that could bring the head & hand of any Christian, had so mangled the Christians, leauing theyr bodyes to y^e wilde beastes. Thus as they were sorowing and lamenting the rufull case of their Christen fellowes, sodenly appeareth y^e comming of the Sultan, with a multitude of innumera∣ble thousandes.* 1.21 Agaynst whom the French men estsoones prepare themselues to encounter, and so the battaile being strocken vp, the armyes began to ioyne. But alacke for pi∣tie, what could the Frenchmen here do, their number first so maymed, their hartes wounded already with feare and sorow, their bodyes consumed w^t penury and famine, their horses for feeblenes not able to serue them?* 1.22 In conclusion, the Frenchmen were ouerthrowne, slaine, and dispatched, & seing there was no flying, happy was he that first coulde yeld hymselfe. In which miserable conflict, the king with his two brethren, and a few that claue vnto him, were ta∣ken captiues, to the confusion of all Christen realmes, and presented to the Soldan. All the residue were purto the sword, or els stoode in the mercy of the Saracens whether to be slayne, or to remayne in wofull captiuitie.

And this was the end of that sorrowful battaile, wher in almost all the nobilitie of Fraunce was slayne, neyther was there one man welneare in all the multitude whiche escaped free, but eyther was slayne, or taken prisoner. Furthermore, they that were slayne or left halfe aliue, had euery one hys head and hand cut off, vppon the Soldans proclamation aboue mentioned.

The Sultan or Soldan, after the taking of the French king, fraudulently suborning an army of Saracens, to y^t number of the French army, with the armes and ensignes of them that were slayne, made toward Damiata, where the Duke of Burgundy, with the French Queene, & Ddo the Popes Legate, and other byshops and their garri∣sons were remaining, supposing vnder the shew of Frēch men to be let in, but the captaynes mistrusting theyr hasty commyng, and misdoubting their visages not like to the French men, shut the gates agaynst them, and so returned they frustrate of their intent.

The purpose of the Soldan was, if he might haue got∣ten Damiata, to send the French king hyer vp in the East countries to Calipha the chiefe Pope of Damascus, to en∣crease the tytles of Mahomet, and to be a spectacle or ga∣sing stocke to all those quarters of the worlde. The maner of which Calipha was neuer left to any Christen prisoner come out, whosoeuer came once in his handes. But for so∣much as the Soldan missed hys purpose, he thought by aduise of counsell, to vse the kinges lyfe for hys owne ad∣uauntage in recouering the city of Damiata,* 1.23 as in the end it came to passe. For although the king at the first was greatly vnwilling, and had rather die then surrender Da∣miata againe to the Saracens, yet the conclusion so fel out that the king was put to hys raunsome, and the Citty of Damiata was also resigned, which citty being twise won, and twise lost by the Christians, the Soldan or Saladine afterward caused vtterly to be rased downe to the ground. The raunsome of the king, vppon condition that the Sol∣dan should see himselfe conducted to Achon (which I take to be Cesaria) came to 60000.* 1.24 markes. The number of Frenchmen, and others which miscaryed in that warre by water and by land came to 80000, persons. tHaec Mat. Parisi. fol. 237.238.

And thus haue ye the briefe narration of this lamenta∣ble peregrination of Lewes the French kyng. In whiche when the French men beyng once or twise well offered by the Soldan, to haue all the kingdome of Ierusalem, and much more in free possession, they not contented with that which was reasonable and sufficient, for greedines to haue all, lost all, hauing at length no more then ther naked bo∣dies could couer, lying dead vpō the ground: & al through the originall cause of the Pope and Ddo hys Legate. By whole sinister meanes and pestilent pride, not only y^e liues of so many Christians were then lost, but also to the sayd Pope is to be imputed all the losse of other citties & Chri∣stian regions bordering in the same quarters: for a••muche as by the occasion hereof, the hartes of the Saracens on y^• one side were so encouraged, & the courage of the christias on the other side so much discomfited, that in short space af∣ter, both the dominion of Antioch and of Achon, with all other possessions belonging to the Christians, were lost, to the great diminishing of Christes Church.

During the tyme of this good king lying at Achon••or Celaria,* 1.25 almighty God sent such discorde betwene y^t Sol∣dan of Halapia, and the Soldā of Babilon, for letting the king so escape, that the sayd Soldan or Salidin of Babi∣lon, to winne the king vnto hys syde, entred league with him (whome both hys brethren, and all his nobles almost at home had forsaken) and remitted hys raunsome, and al∣so restored vnto hym such prisoners as were, in the sayde battayle foūd to be aliue. Thus the Lord worketh, where man commonly forsaketh. Math Paris. fol. 261.

An other cause moreouer,* 1.26 why the ruine of this French army may worthely be impured to the Pope, is this: for that whē Lewes the French king perceauing what a ne∣cessary frend and helper Fredericke the Emperour might be to hym in these his affayres agaynst the Saracens, and therfore was an earnest suter for him to the Pope to haue hym released, yet neyther he, nor the king of Englande by any meanes could obtayne it.* 1.27 And although the Emperor himselfe offred to pope Innocent with all humble submis∣sion to make satisfaction in the Councell of Lyons, pro∣mising also to expugne all the dominions of the Saracens and neuer to returne into Europe agayn, and there to re∣couer whatsoeuer the Christians had lost, so that the pope would onely graūt his sonne Henry to be Emperoure af∣ter him: yet the proud pope woulde not be mollified, but would needes proceede agaynst hym with both swordes, that is, first with the spirituall sword to accurse hym, and then with the temporall sword to depose him frō his Em∣perial throne. Through the occasion wherof, not onely the French kinges power went to wracke, but also such a fire of mischiefe was kindled agaynst all Christendome,* 1.28 as yet to this day cannot be quenched. For after this ouerthrowe of the French king and his army, the Christians of Anti∣och and of other Christen regions theraboutes, being vt∣terly discouraged, gaue ouer there holdes and Citties. Whereby the Saracens, and after them the Turkes, got such an hand ouer Christēdome, as to this day we al haue great cause to rue and lament. Besides this, where diuers Christians were crossed to go ouer and helpe the Frenche king, the pope for mony dispensed with them to tary still at home.

But as I sayd, the greatest cause was, that the Empe∣rour, whiche coulde haue done most, was deposed by the Popes tyranny, whereby all those Churches in Asia were left desolate. As touching the whiche Emperour Frede∣ricke, because we haue diuers and sundry tymes made mē∣tion of him before, and for that his story is straunge, hys actes wonderous, and his conflictes tragicall, whiche he sustayned agaynst iiii. or v. Popes one after an other, I thought not out of story in a whole narration to set forth the same, for the reader to consider, what is to be iudged of this Cathedrall Sea of Rome, which had wrought such abhominable mischiefe in the world, as in the sequele of the story following faythfully translated out of Latiue into English is to be seene.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The storie howe the French army was ouer∣throwen fighting a∣gainst the Saracens.
• * 1.2

  The sayre o••fers of the Soldan to the French∣men, if they had had grace to take it. The pope & his legate cause of all this mischief
• * 1.3

  The Christi∣ans refusing good offers could not haue them when they would. A cruell pro¦clamation of the Saracens against the Christians.
• * 1.4

  The Earle of Artoys with the 3. part of the Christen ar∣my palleth ouer the ri∣uer Nilus.
• * 1.5

  W. Long∣spath.
• * 1.6

  Victory of the Christi∣ans against the Saracens
• * 1.7

  Good coun∣••ell giuen but not fol∣lowed.
• * 1.8

  The despiteful rebukes of Earle Robert to them that gaue him good counsell.
• * 1.9

  The answere of the Templaries to Earle Robert
• * 1.10

  The worthy an∣swere of an eng∣lish knight to Earle Rob. the kinges brother.
• * 1.11

  A number of French souldi∣ours sent to Da∣miata, drowned & slaine by the way.
• * 1.12

  The village and castle of Mansor assaulted by the Frenchmen.
• * 1.13

  The Frēchmen discomfited at the siege of Mā∣sor.
• * 1.14

  Earle Robert•• army inclo••ed by the Soldan of Babylon.
• * 1.15

  The cowardly flying away of the Earle Rob. Earle Rob the kinges brother drowned.
• * 1.16

  The manly cou∣rage of William Longspath.
• * 1.17

  W. Longspath slain in battaile
• * 1.18

  The Frenchmen ouerthrowne.
• * 1.19

  The sorowes in the frēch campe for losse of their brethren.
• * 1.20

  The heads and handes of the Christians cut off.
• * 1.21

  The bartaile be∣twene the frēch kyng and the Soldan.
• * 1.22

  The French ar∣my ouerthrowē The pitifull. slaughter of the Frenchmen. The Frēch king with his two brethren taken captiue by the Soldan.
• * 1.23

  Damiata resig∣ned to the Sa∣racens.
• * 1.24

  The summe of the kynges ran∣some. The number of the French men slaine.
• * 1.25

  The two Soldans at varianee•• bout the Frēch 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.26

  What mis∣chiefe hau•• come to Christēd••m & by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 meanes.
• * 1.27

  How Frede∣rike the Em∣peror reign haue send in good 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against the Saracens 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the pope would not suffer 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.28

  The tyran•• and deuil••d mischiefe is the pope ••∣gainst the Emperor.