Mahometans say this Tree of Pearls later married a mameluk chief called Aybeg and conferred upon him the title of sultan. For seven years they governed together. But one day in the bath she rebuked him for having taken a juvenile concubine. Do I no longer please you? she asked. She is young, Aybeg unwisely answered, whereas you are not. At this she blinded him with soap and stabbed him. By chance one of Aybeg’s sons observed water flowing through a drain streaked with blood so he rushed into the room and found Chegeret almost naked and a dagger in her hand. We are told that she dashed wildly through the palace corridors but slipped, struck her head against a marble post and died. God castigate such people. May all plunge downward to the dolorous house of hell.
No more was Turanshah put to death like a screaming pig than here came thirty Saracens with Danish axes slung around their necks clambering aboard our galley. Baudouin, who understood their language, told me they had come to take our heads. Many of our people gathered about Jean, a monk of the Holy Trinity, to confess their sins. As for myself, I was too frightened to recall any sins and could think of nothing except that if I tried to escape or defend myself they would make it all the worse for me. Since I could not imagine any way out I crossed myself and knelt before a Saracen who was gripping an axe of the sort carpenters use. In this manner, I thought, Saint Agnes died. Guy d’Ibelin knelt beside me and confessed himself. I absolve you, I said, with such power as God allots me.
The Saracens told us to get up. At this my senses returned and it occurred to me that I could not recall a single word of Guy d’Ibelin’s confession.
We were led into the hold of the galley and spent the night packed tight as fish in a keg. Comte Pierre’s feet against my face, mine against his. In great misery we speculated that we might be plucked out one after another and beheaded like chickens.
Next day we were brought on deck. The emirs wished to speak with us concerning the truce arranged by Turanshah. Those who could walk were led ashore. I myself, Comte Pierre, High Constable Imbert, and others in very poor shape did not attempt to go. By the grace of God our people and theirs came to agreement. King Louis and the nobles would be released when Damietta surrendered. Concerning ransom, his majesty would pay half before embarkation, the second half when we reached Acre. Saracens would look after the sick in Damietta. Also, they would attend to our equipment, engines of war, and provisions such as salt meat until his majesty sent for them. All this was put in writing and the emirs swore that if they did not keep their covenant they would be utterly dishonored. Further, should they break faith with King Louis they would be as disgraced as a Muslim who eats pork. Nicole d’Acre, being a priest who understood these people, assured his majesty that there could be no avouchment more binding.
But the emirs had an oath drawn up that they wanted our king to sign. This on the advice of certain renegade priests who had forsaken Christ to join the enemy. Should King Louis fail to keep his covenant he would be stigmatized as one who denied our Lord and Blessed Mary, hence outcast from the community of apostles. Should the king break faith he would be stigmatized as one who denied God and in contempt of God spat upon and trampled the Holy Cross.
When this was explained to King Louis he declared that never would he take such an oath.
The emirs spoke to Nicole d’Acre and bade him give the king this message. We take it badly that, while we have bound ourselves to keep faith, you on your part refuse. Be it known that if you do not accept this oath your head will be forfeit, as will the heads of your people.
King Louis replied that the emirs might do as they liked. For himself, he would sooner die in the arms of Christ than live opposed to our Lord and His blessed mother.
The emirs charged that King Louis had been so advised by the patriarch of Jerusalem. This patriarch, being eighty years old and greatly esteemed, was given leave by Turanshah to visit the king. However, amongst both pagans and Christians it is understood that a sovereign’s warrant of safe passage becomes invalid if he dies. Thus, Turanshah no longer sultan, the patriarch had been roughly seized. Let us send his head flying into the lap of King Louis, said one emir. Others would not consent. Whereupon they tied this good old cleric to a post in the royal pavilion, hands lashed behind his back, which made them swell up like gourds and blood seeped under his fingernails. The patriarch implored King Louis to swear what the Saracens demanded, saying he would take upon his own soul any sin there might be.
I think to some degree his majesty swore an oath, enough to mollify these accursed people. And the Saracens called him the most steadfast Christian in the world, citing as proof that whenever he issued from his tent he prostrated himself and made the sign of the cross over all his body. If Mahomet subjected Muslims to such abuse, they said, their belief would not survive.
Thus, matters having improved, we proceeded downstream and cast anchor above the Damietta bridge.
At sunrise of the appointed day Lord Geoffrey de Sargines entered Damietta, charged with its surrender. Muslim banners soon went up and infidel knights wandered the streets drinking wine until all were drunk. One got aboard our galley to show his sword dripping
