About sunrise we came in view of the sultan’s galleys and could see all around them Christian vessels that had been captured. Egyptians were stealing property and murdering people and throwing bodies overboard. We were noticed by mounted Saracens on the bank who began discharging arrows tipped with Greek fire that dropped from the sky like comets. I was given a jousting hauberk to wear for protection. But now I learned the crew wanted to set me ashore, hoping thereby to save themselves. I got one of my men to lift me up by the arms since I felt very weak and with sword in hand told the crew if they pulled over to the bank I would kill them. We argued some time, they behaving with utmost insolence. Shortly after this here came four Egyptian galleys pulling toward us with at least one thousand men aboard. I thought we might surrender to those ashore or to those on the galleys but we could not by any means reach Damietta. I consulted my knights. We agreed that if we surrendered to those on land we would be separated and sold to Bedouin, whereas if we gave ourselves up to the sultan’s galleys we might stay together. Yet one of my people, a steward from Doulevant, began to complain. When I asked what he thought we should do he replied that we should let ourselves be killed so we might ascend to Paradise. However, no one else liked this idea. Realizing that we must forfeit our liberty, I gathered up my jewels and holy relics and tossed them in the water.
One of the crew asked if I would permit them to say I was his majesty’s cousin. For if you do not, he explained, they will certainly butcher all of us, including yourself. He seemed convinced of this. I did not know what good it might do, but told him to say whatever he pleased. He therefore took it upon himself to make this announcement. When the closest galley was about to ram us and send us to the bottom he shouted that I was blood relative to King Louis. And they, instead of splintering our craft, dropped anchor alongside.
Almost at once a Saracen clad in linen breeches came swimming toward us. Later I found out he could speak more than one language because the emperor of Germany governed the place of his birth. No sooner did he climb up on our ship than he grasped me about the waist and said I must act quickly or I was lost. He explained that Egyptians swarming aboard were looking for plunder and would not at first notice me so I must jump on the galley. With God’s help I managed to do as he instructed but would have fallen back into the river if he had not leapt after me. He kept his arms about me when I was flung to the deck, even as I felt a knife at my throat. He cried out again and again that I was the king’s relative. Why he chose to endanger his life for my sake I do not know. In any event, I was led to a castle aboard the galley where Saracen knights were housed. They took off my hauberk and gave me a scarlet wrap lined with miniver that in fact belonged to me, having been a gift from my mother, and a hood to cover my head. A fit of trembling overcame me on account of my illness and because I was terrified. I asked for a drink so they fetched a jug. However, I could not swallow. The water came spurting out my nostrils. I asked to speak with my people and when they appeared I told them I was dying. They asked why I thought so and I replied that I had a growth in my throat, which I showed them. They began to weep. The Saracens asked the man who had saved me what was wrong. He told them I could not hope to recover because of this growth. But one of them said he would give me a potion that would cure me in two days, which is what happened.
The emir in charge of this galley asked if I was indeed related to King Louis. I answered that I was not and I explained the situation. He said I had been shrewdly advised, otherwise I would have lost my head. He also inquired if I might be related to the emperor of Germany. I answered that I believed my mother was a cousin, which was true, and he seemed gratified.
While we were dining together he had a citizen of Paris brought to the table and this man noticed with astonishment that I was eating meat. My lord, he exclaimed, what are you doing? Well, said I, what do you think I am doing? In God’s name, said he, it is Friday! I had not been aware of this so I put the bowl aside. The emir asked my savior why I had pushed away the meat, and being told the reason said he doubted God would hold this against me.
One of my people, Raoul de Wanou, had been hamstrung during the battle on Shrove Tuesday and there was aboard the galley an old Saracen knight who carried Raoul on his back to the latrine whenever necessary, a
