We looked to our release the morning Damietta surrendered, but were kept aboard. Nor did we get a thing to eat. The emirs passed this time quarreling, unable to decide if we should be killed. One argued that King Louis and all of us should taste the sword because our children were young and could not seek vengeance for many years. Another, by name Sevrici who was born in Mauretania, protested that already they killed the sultan and if now they murdered King Louis it would be said that Egyptians were the most wicked people on earth. Others admitted that indeed they had done wrong to kill the sultan because Mahomet commanded them to venerate their lord. Yet, said they, something else was written in the Book of Mahomet. And one of them turned over a page of their holy book where it was written that to safeguard their faith they must slay enemies of the Law. Hence, if they did violate the precept of Mahomet by murdering Turanshah, they would sin more deeply if they neglected to kill the lord of Christians. And one of those we knew to be set against us pulled off his turban, waving it as a signal, whereupon the galleys weighed anchor and took us back upstream a league or more in the direction of Cairo. At this we commended our souls to God.
What changed their hearts I do not know. Near sunset our vessels returned downstream and drew up alongside the bank. Since Damietta now belonged to them we demanded our release according to agreement, but they would not let us go until we had eaten, saying the emir would be chagrined if we should leave hungry. They brought us some little cheese cakes baked hard in the sun to keep them free of maggots and boiled eggs with the shells colorfully painted to honor us.
By the time we got ashore his majesty was being escorted to a Genoese galley. It looked as if twenty thousand Saracens with swords in their belts were following him. A plank was lowered so he might board the galley. With him went his brother, the Comte d’Anjou, and various nobles including Henri du Mez, Philippe de Nemours, and myself. The Comte de Poitiers had been detained as security until half the ransom was paid. Everyone had left Damietta excepting the very old and sick whom the Egyptians had vowed to protect. Instead, the villains murdered one and all. They knocked apart our catapults, heaped the bodies of slain citizens between layers of salt pork and wood and set everything ablaze. The fire burned Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. May the Lord God punish Babylon. We are hard put at such times to grasp the manner of His Divinity. Withal, how should we doubt or question His intent?
Mahometans say the negotiators harshly lectured our beloved king. They asked how a wise and vigilant sovereign could embark on a voyage to a land populated by servants of Allah. According to our law, said they, a man who would do this could not testify at court. Why not? asked King Louis. Because, said they, it would be assumed that he had lost his faculties. Concerning the truth of this exchange, I, Jean, have no knowledge.
Two days were needed to count the ransom, which was reckoned on scales by weight. During this time a Saracen of pleasing aspect brought his majesty a bouquet of divers color and jars filled with milk and he addressed the king in French. Upon being asked how he had learnt our language this man replied that he was himself French, born in Provins, but years ago came to Egypt, married one of their women, and now by his own estimate was a gentleman of consequence. Being asked if he did not understand that he would be forever damned if he should die in this circumstance, he answered that he did. He explained that he dared not return to Christianity because poverty and shame would be his lot. He preferred instead his life of wealth and ease among infidels. When it was pointed out that on Judgment Day the magnitude of his sin would be exposed, he seemed indifferent. Soon thereafter he went away. In due time this rogue must face the Lord.
The king’s men who were counting money sent to tell him they had not enough by thirty thousand livres. I suggested that his majesty borrow this amount from the Templars. He approved and instructed me to consult them. I therefore spoke to Étienne d’Otricourt who was Commander of the Temple, but our discussion went badly. My lord of Joinville, said he, your advice to his majesty does you little credit since you know that money entrusted to us cannot be lent. I then said to the Templar several things that are best forgotten. At this point Renaud de Vichiers, who was Marshal, spoke up. We cannot violate our oath, said he, but if King Louis thinks fit to take the money we would not be surprised. If that should be the case, his majesty demanding what belongs to us in Egypt, why then, we should requite ourselves with what belongs to him in Acre.
Seeing how matters stood I told the king that, if he so wished, I would go and take the money. He directed me to proceed.
Marshal Renaud accompanied me into the hold of the treasure galley and when we got to a massive chest I asked the Treasurer for his key. But as I appeared more dead than alive from sickness and imprisonment and he not knowing I was sent by the king, he gazed at me in stupefaction. After some moments he replied that he would not. I thereupon picked up a hatchet and said it might serve as his majesty’s
