From Belt and Spur, Stories of the Knights of the Middle Ages from the Old Chronicles, by E. L. S. (Emma L. Seeley), New York: Scribner and Welford, 1883; pp. 134-144.
CHAPTER VI.
PRINCE EDWARD AT THE LAST CRUSADE.
Now when the barons had been brought to submit to the King’s mercy, and peace had been proclaimed throughout the kingdom, it came to pass that the Christians were stirred up against the Saracens, who long time had held possession of the sanctuary of the Lord; and by the diligence of Clement, the Roman pontiff, great numbers of Christian people assembled, and the most powerful princes took the holy sign. Among them was Edward, the King’s son, and he set forth in the summer of the year 1270. Then about the feast of St. Michael he came to Aigues-mortes, which lies about eighteen leagues to the west of Marseilles, and there he took ship, and, sailing with a favourable wind, came on the tenth day to Tunis, where he was received with great joy by the Christian kings whom he found there — by Philip, of France, who had become king by the death of his father, St. Louis, not long before, by Charles, King of Sicily, and by the two kings of Navarre and Aragon. All these kings were assembled from zeal for God and Christ’s people, and to them now came Edward for himself 135 and his father and Henry, the son of the King of Germany, in the stead of his father. Now this Henry, on returning to his father, was slain at Viterbo in the chapel while he was hearing mass, by Guy de Montfort and Count Rufus, whose daughter Guy had married, in revenge for the death of Earl Simon.
And when Edward inquired of the kings concerning matters, they replied, ‘The prince of this city and the surrounding country is bound to pay tribute every year to the King of Sicily, and because for seven years and more he had ceased to pay it we came upon him. But he, knowing that he ought justly to pay the tribute, has already satisfied our demands both for past and future times.’
To which he answered, ‘What! My good lords, this manner of dealing becomes us not; we have assumed the sign of the Lord to against the enemies of the Cross of Christ, and not to make agreements with them. Be it far from us! for the way is open and the land smooth and plain before us, that we may go up to the holy city, Jerusalem.’
But they answered, ‘We have already concluded a peace, and it is not lawful for us to break it, but let us return into Sicily, and when the winter is past we can sail for Acre.’
And this counsel displeased him, neither would he give assent to the peace, nor take any part of the unlawful money, but held himself aloof from their royal feasts. But they, remaining fixed on their determination, when the wind blew, entered their ships. And there remained on the shore more than two hundred 136 men, having no ships to sail in, crying out for fear of the death that they must shortly suffer if they were left behind. Then Edward, moved by their tears, though the others cared not for them, went to the shore with a boat, and making room in his several ships, sent them all before him, coming himself with the last; so they set sail and departed.
And the seventh day they came to the kingdom of Sicily, opposite the city of Trapani, and on the day before the feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, about noon, they anchored in the high sea, more than a mile from shore, for they had large ships, each having two sails, and they were overloaded; and there came out to meet them from the port of the city many boats, which going backwards and forewards two or three times, carried to land the kings, and princes, and most of the soldiers, but few of the horses and almost none of the arms. Then towards evening the sea began to rise, and there was a great tempest, so that the ships, being dashed one against another, were broken, and there were lost more than a hundred and twenty, with the horses, and arms, and many men, and the unlawful treasure perished, and was swallowed up in the deep sea; but all the ships of Edward, in number about thirteen, were unharmed by the tempest, nor did a man of them perish, for the Lord saved them because he would not consent to their evil counsel.
Then, when the morning was come, and the kings came to shore, and saw the bodies of the drowned men and the horses without number, they mourned, for out of so many ships and one thousand five hundred 137 sailors, besides the common people, there remained none but the sailors of one ship, and that fell out in this way. There was in that ship a good countess, who, seeing the peril and fearing it justly, inquired of the sailors whether they could be saved if they tried to reach the shore. And they answered, ‘What was the good? if the men were saved and the ship itself were lost.’ And she answered, ‘Care not for the ship, for if the lives are saved I will give you double the price of the ship.’ So, raising two sails, they ran the ship far on to the land with such force that it remained fixed, but the sailors, knowing that it was to be paid for twice over, they saved all the people, to the joy of all. Thus the kings came back their lands, and their horses and arms were swallowed up, but Edward wintered there in his ships, which the Almighty had preserved.
About the middle of Lent, renewing his proposed journey, Edward went up into his ship, and by Easter, in fifteen days came to Acre with a thousand chosen men; and he remained there for a whole month to refresh his men and horses, and to learn the secrets of the land. After the month, many of the Christians, to the number of seven thousand, went forth with him as far as twenty leagues from Acre, and they took Nazareth, and killed all whom they found there. But, returning to Acre, the enemy followed them close to cut off all whom they could in narrow and enclosed places; which when they saw, they turned back upon them and drove them to flight, killing some of them.
About the feast of the Nativity of St. John the 138 Baptist, Edward, hearing that the Saracens were gathered together at Kakehowe, which was distant a short space from Acre, he went forth, and attacking them at daybreak, slew of them about a thousand men, the rest taking flight rapidly; and he carried away much spoil. Thence he went to the Pilgrims’ Castle, which is situated on the sea, and remained there with the Christians that night, returning the next day to Acre.
In the meantime the King of Jerusalem sent to the great men of Cyprus that they should come with all speed; but they would not. But when Edward sent to them, praying them to come at his request, forthwith they came with many soldiers, saying that they owed him obedience, because his ancestors had formerly ruled their lands, and they ought always to be faithful to the kings of England. So the Christians being encouraged, they went forth three times from the feast of St. Peter ad Vincula to St. George, and having killed some, and finding no more to oppose them, they returned joyfully to their place again. Thus the fame of Edward grew great among the enemies of the Cross of Christ, and they feared him greatly, and took counsel together if haply they might destroy him secretly
Then that great prince, the Emir of Joppa, sent letters to him feigning craftily that he wished to become a Christian, and that he could draw many to him, if they would be held in honour by him and the other Christians. And the thing pleased Edward, and he urged him to accomplish his purpose; and 139 thus a second, and third, and fourth time he sent the same lad concerning this matter. But he was a messenger brought up by the Old Man of the Mountain, who neither dreaded death nor feared God. And when he came the fifth time, the servants of Edward having seen that he had neither knife nor arms in his hands or girdle, brought him into Edward’s chamber; and he, bowing low, delivered to him letters from his lord, as he was wont to do. Now it was the Thursday in the octave of Pentecost, and about the hour of vespers, and on account of the heat Edward was sitting on his bed in his tunic only, with his head uncovered; and when the letters were read, it appeared that on the Saturday of the same week his lord would come to perform his promise. And the words pleased Edward, and they talked long concerning it. And the young man, bowing down before Edward, replied to his questions many times. Then putting his hand into his girdle, as if he would bring out secret letters, he drew out suddenly a poisoned knife, and struck at Edward as he lay. The prince, raising his hand to ward off the blow, was wounded deeply in the arm; but seeing him about to strike again, he threw him with such force that he fell to the ground, then seizing his hand he drew from it the knife, so violently that he wounded himself in the forehead, and plunged it into the assassin’s side and killed him. And his servants, who had been at a distance, running up found him dead on the ground. One of them — it was his harper — seizing his stool, struck him on the head and knocked out his brains; 140 but Edward chid him for striking a dead man. And the evil tidings spread in the palace, and from the palace to the people, and they were much distressed. And the Master of the Templars, running to him in haste, gave him a precious draught to drink, lest the poison should spread in his body and harm him, saying reproachfully, ‘Did I not warn thee of the treachery of this people? But,’ he added, ‘take comfort and fear not, for thou wilt not die from the poison.’
And his surgeons were called, and they dressed his wounds; but after a few days, seeing the flesh turning black, they began to speak one to another in low whispers; and there was no gladness among his servants.
Then he, perceiving this, said to them, ‘Why talk you low? Can you not heal me? Fear not; but tell me.’
And one of them, an Englishman, answered, ‘Thou canst be healed; but thou must suffer much.’
And he said, ‘If I suffer, canst thou certainly promise me health?’
And he answered, ‘I will promise it certainly, on pain of death.’
So he answered, ‘I commit myself to thee; and do what thou wilt.’
And he said, ‘Are there any of thy captains in whom thou trustest?’
And the Prince named several of those standing round; for there were many of his chief men standing round with his wife.
141Then said the physician to the two whom he first named — Lord Edmund and Sir John de Vesci — ‘Love you your lord?’
And they answered, ‘Surely!’
And he said, ‘Then take away his wife, and let not her lord see her until I give you leave.’
And they bore her away, weeping and lamenting; and they said, ‘Suffer us, lady, for it is better that thou shouldest weep tears, than that all the land of England should weep.’
Then the surgeon cut away all the black flesh of his arm; and said, ‘Take comfort, for I promise thee, that within fifteen days thou shalt go forth and mount thy horse.’
And what he had promised came to pass, and every one marvelled.
And when it was told to the great Sultan that Edward had survived, he would scarce give credit to it; and he sent to him three of his princes to excuse him, calling his gods to witness that it had not been done with his knowledge. And they fell flat on the ground before Edward, and worshipped him. But Edward said to them in English, ‘You worship me, but love me not;’ but they understood not his words, for they spoke with him by an interpreter. But he entertained them honourably, and after two days dismissed them in peace.
Then after a time there came mediators to bring about a truce; and they agreed to a truce for ten years, ten weeks, and ten days. So the Christians returned each one to his place. And the truce was 142 made after Edward had been in Acre a year and a half. And about the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, he went up into his ship to return. And he came after seven weeks into Sicily to Trapani, and thence making his way by Palestrina, through Apulia, he came to Rome; where he was honourably received by Pope Gregory.
And when he came into France, and the fame of his glory spread among the people, many envied him, and chiefly the valiant Count of Chalons. So he sent to him, and prayed him that he would come and joust with him in his land. And he, not wishing to diminish his glory, though he might have excused himself because of his pilgrimage, yet he would not, but willingly agreed; and it was proclaimed publicly that Edward, with his pilgrims, would hold a tournament against all comers. So they came together out of all those parts, on foot and on horse; and many conspired together to spoil the English, selling beforehand their horses and arms, and drinking their Lebanon wine. And Edward also sent into England for certain of his great men; and there came to him earls and barons, till there were with Edward almost a thousand armed knights, and many foot-soldiers. But on the other side there were twice as many, both men and horses. And they coming together, the foot-soldiers began to spoil and rob; and our men resisted them with slings and bows and killed many, and drove the rest to the gates of the city; and many also fled to the water, and were drowned.
Then the Count, with fifty chosen knights, came 143 to Edward’s troop and joined battle with him; and they fought together for a long space with swords, for they were both valiant men. And when the Count saw that he could not prevail with the sword, he threw his arms round the neck of Edward and enclosed him tightly. Then Edward said, ‘Dost thou think to have my horse?’ and he answered, ‘I will have thee and thy horse too.’ Then Edward, moved to anger, raised himself and struck his horse so that it rushed forward, and the other, clinging round the neck, was dragged from his horse, and he flung him to the ground, so that for a long time he lay senseless; and Edward, astonished, gave him air to refresh him. And seeing their wickedness, and that they had already killed many of his men, and that they were fighting not as in a tournament but as in a battle, he said to his men, ‘Let your eye spare no man, but do to them as they do to you.’ So many met their deaths, and on all sides they raged with their swords. And the foot-soldiers returning from the slaughter of the others, when they saw many of their own men fallen, they entered boldly the battle of the horsemen, and stabbed the horses and cut the girths of many, so that their riders fell to the ground. Then Edward went to the Count whom his men had lifted up and set on his horse, and he, being belaboured with blows, would have surrendered, but Edward at first would not accept it, but seeing his lack of courage, he bade him yield himself to a simple knight; and the rest fled, and many were left dead in that place.
When our men had thus obtained the victory and 144 Edward thought himself secure, it was told him that his men would be killed, as they entered the city, by the citizens. Then he sent for the mayor and chief citizens and bade them seize and punish the offenders, or else the next day he would set fire to the city and raze it to the ground. So they placed guards in all parts of the city and left Edward in peace. Thus much blood was shed at this meeting, whence the name of it was changed, and it was called commonly, not the ‘Tournament,’ but the ‘Little War of Chalons.’
Then Edward went to Paris and was honourably received by the King of the French. And after some days he went into Gascony, and remained there until he heard of the death of his father.