The
Christian army, commanded by the king of Jerusalem, the duke of Austria, and
William, count of Holland, embarked at the port of Ptolemais, and landed within
sight of Damietta, on the northern bank of the second mouth of the Nile. The
city of Damietta, situated at the distance of a mile from the sea, had a double
rampart on the river side, and a triple wall on the land side ; a tower arose
in the middle of the Nile, and an iron chain, which reached from the city
to the tower, prevented the passage of vessels. The city contained a numerous
garrison, with provisions and munitions of war for a long siege. Damietta
had already several times resisted formidable attacks of the Christians.
.
. . first attacks were directed against the tower in the middle of the Nile
; vessels, in which were placed towers, ladders, and drawbridges, approached
the walls. The soldiers who manned them, braving the arrows and murderous
machines of the Mussulmans, made several assaults ; but pprodigies of strength,
courage, and skill were useless. The most intrepid of the Crusaders, victims
of their own rash bravery and devotedness, perished, swallowed up by the waves,
without being able to be succourd or avenged by their companions. In all the
attacks, nothing could equal the impetuous valour of the Western warriors
; but this valour was not seconded by either the prudence of the commanders
or the disipline of the soldiers ; each nation had its leader, its machines
of war, its days for fighting ; no order governed either attack or retreat
; the soldiers on board the vessels wished to manaeuvre them, the sailors
would fight.
The
frequent checks they experienced, at length, however, taught them prudence
; the lightest of their vessels ascended the Nile, and returning to cast anchor
above the tower built in the middle of the river, attacked an broke asunder
the bridge of the boats which united the tower with the city. Industry likewise
lent its assistance to the bravery of the Crusaders ; machines of war were
invented, of which no models had previously existed. An enormous wooden castle,
built upon two vessels, joined together by beams and joists, was admired as
a miraculous invention, and considered as a certain pledge of victory. Upon
this floating castle was a drawbridge, which could be lowered upon the tower
of the Saracens, and galleries destined to receive the soldiers who were to
attack the walls. A poor priest of the church of Cologne, who had preached
the crusade on the banks of the Rhine, and followed the Christian army into
Egypt, was charged with the superintendence of the erection of this formidable
edifice. As the popes in their letters always advised the Crusaders to take
with them to the East men skilled in the mechanical arts, the Christian army
was in no want of workmen to perform the most difficult labours ; the liberality
of the leaders and soldiers supplied all the necessary expenses.
.
. . On the appointed day, the two vessels surmounted by the wooden tower received
the signal for moving. They carried three hundred warriors fully armed ; and
an innumerable multitude of Mussulmans assembled on the walls contemplated
the spectacle with surprise mingled with dread. The two vessels pursued their
silent course up the middle of the river, whilst all the Crusaders, either
drawn up in battle-array on the left bank of the Nile, or dispersed over the
neighboring hills, saluted with loudest acclamations the moving fortress which
bore the fortunes and the hopes of the Christian army. On drawing near to
the walls the two vessels cast anchor, and the soldiers prepared for the assault.
Whilst the christians hurled their javelins and got ready their lances and
swords, the Saracens poured upon them torrents of Greek fire, and employed
every effort to make the wooden castle on which their enemies fought a prey
to flames. The one party was encouraged by the shouts and applauses of the
Christian army, the other by the thousand times repeated acclamations of the
inhabitants of Damietta. Amidst the fight, the machine of the Crusaders all
at once appeared on fire ; the drawbridge lowered on to the walls of the tower
wavered and was unsteady ; the flagstaff of the duke of Austria fell into
the Nile, and the banner of the Christians remained in the hands of the Mussulmans.
At this sight the Saracens uttered the most extravagant cries of joy, whilst
groans and sounds og grief were heard along the shore on which the Crusaders
were encamped ; the patriarch of Jerusalem, the clergy, the whole army, fell
on their knees, and raised their supplicating hands towards heaven.
But
soon, as if God had been favorable to their prayers, the flames were extinguished,
the machine was repaired, the drawbridge was replaced, and the companions
of Leopold renewed the attack with more ardour than ever. page 33 to 32; .
. . After this memorable victory. the Christians, masters of the tower of
the Nile, broke the chain which impeded the passage of vessels, and their
fleet was able to approach close to the ramparts of the City.
About
this time ( September, 1217 ) Malek-Adel, who had rendered himself so formidable
to the Christians, died in the capital of Egypt. He heard before his death
of the victory which the Christians had gained at Damietta. . . . page 33;
Among the French warriors, history names Herve, count of Nevers ; Hugh, count
de la Marche ; Miles de Bar-sur-Seine ; the lords John of Artois and Ponce
de Crancey ; Ithier de Thacy, and Savary de Mauleon ; they were accompanied
by the archbishop of Bordeaux, the bishops of Angers, Autun, Beauvais, Paris,
Meaux, Noyon, & c. England sent the bravest of her knights into Egypt. Henry
III, had taken the cross after the council of the lateran ; but as he could
not quit his dominions, at that time a prey to civil wars and torn by discord,
the earls of Harcourt, Chester, and Arundel, with prince Oliver, were honoured
with the charge of aquitting, in his name, the vow he had taken to fight in
the East for the cause of Christ.
