Bishop Oliverius now explained how two vessels might be joined with ropes and planks until they resembled one, having four masts and a balustrade of poles and nets covered with hide. So it was done. Under the balustrade, suspended from ropes, a ladder extended thirty cubits beyond the prow. High barons were invited to look over this vessel to see if anything might be lacking, but they marveled and declared that such a work had not been imagined since the beginning of the world. Men from every nation were assigned to it so there could be no empty boasting.
On the feast of Saint Bartholomew as clerics walked barefoot along the shore and the patriarch of Jerusalem lay prostrate in the dust before the cross this vessel eased forth. Now came a shower of stones from the ramparts of Damietta. And as the vessel got closer those who defended the castle thrust out lances. They threw oil and fire, which caused the wood to burst into flame. Soldiers attempting to quench the fire with gravel and sour liquid fell into the Nile, including the standard bearer of the duke. The Babylonians shouted with joy, thinking themselves victorious. However a young knight from the diocese of Liège got into the castle. After him a Frisian soldier carrying a flail of the sort used in threshing grain, equipped with chains for combat, who lashed out right and left and knocked down the infidel bearing Sultan al-Kamil’s standard. God’s enemies seeing this grew alarmed and retreated to where they could not escape. At last, seeing no help, they wished to discuss things. When it was agreed their lives would be spared they gave up their weapons to the duke, excepting some who during the night had thrown themselves from windows to drown or swim ashore. Pilgrims now controlled the waterway to Cairo. Many brave knights and sergeants here ascended to glory, delivered from human woe. Lord Ithier de Toucy. Lord Hervé de Vierzon. Brother William from Chartres. Oliver, bastard son of John Lackland. Their names will not be forgotten.
On the feast of Saint Denys here came armed galleys rowing against the pilgrim camp but they were repulsed. Few escaped Christian blades and treacherous currents of the Nile. As was learned afterward, nearly one thousand perished. Almighty God is a wall of strength to those who trust in Him.
On the feast of Saint Demetrius, alleged to be the uterine brother of Blessed Denys, here came Saracens once more, at dawn, to invade the Templar camp but were again driven back. On this occasion five hundred plunged shrieking into hell.
Anon a Templar vessel carried by the powerful stream drifted near Damietta. Pagans assaulted it with stones, fire, and grappling hooks and swarmed aboard. And since the hull was pierced it sank quickly leaving only the mast above water, drowning many from both camps. Even as valiant Samson claimed more when he died than he killed in life, so did these Templars draw into a watery grave more than they despatched with swords. Thus hostilities raged while the living host sought to encompass Damietta, Saracens arriving unexpectedly from every direction to harass and trouble them.
During the vigil of Saint Andrew the Nile began to rise, advancing into camp. Tents floated away, fish came squirming up where they could be seized by hand. This storm did not abate for three days. Excepting our Lord’s infinite compassion all would have been sucked into the river or the sea. Next came plague. Blackness developed on the shins, legs afflicted with sudden pain, flesh in the mouth corrupted so the victim was unable to chew. Physicians despaired. During this trial many ascended to Christ.
How often men lapse from the counsel of our Lord. These pilgrims, having subdued the castle on the island, slipped downward into boasting indolence and revelry. Three months they loitered, gambling at dice, fornicating, drinking. Where, they asked themselves, was this Emperor Frederick of Hohenstaufen with his Teutonic legions?
As to Saracens locked inside the walls of Damietta, during this time they lost their governor on account of illness and had no one to direct them. Therefore they addressed a message to Sultan Malik al-Kamil at Cairo, beseeching him to provide a governor with knowledge enough and strength to rule. This message they fixed to a pigeon beneath her right wing and straightway let her go. She lifted herself up into the air, looked about, and sped away to the dovecote in Cairo where she was hatched. And the keeper took her to Sultan al-Kamil who plucked the message from her and caused it to be read. Then he felt alarmed because Damietta was the key to his land.
After consultation with his advisors he ordered an ox-hide to be folded four times in the shape of an egg, tightly sewn, daubed with pitch, and a cork belt around the middle so it would not overturn or sink. Inside this egg they put the sultan’s nephew, a hole cut in the top of it for him to breathe. According to the chronicle of Reims they lowered this egg into the Nile after dark, not much could be seen above water, and away went al-Kamil’s nephew on the current. But the Christians had stretched a net for whatever might chance to come, so at dawn they spied an object fetched against it and paddled out to investigate. They pulled the egg ashore with hooks, carried it to King John’s tent where he ordered the ox-hide cut apart and here was a young Babylonian miserable and famished and damp with a letter in his tunic announcing who he was. So the king clapped him in irons and had him right well
