volume one
volume one volume one
39^ niSTOHY OF THE CHrSADES. they would "be the first. Sucli a f\ivoiira"ble opportunity should not be neglected, or a conquest despised "which fortune appeared to oifer to the first power that should make its appearance in Egypt." Thus the kins: of Jerusalem and the sultan of Damascus entertained the same \'iews, and both made preparations for the same conquest. In the chiu'ches of the Christians, as in the mosques of the Mussulmans, prayers were put up for the success of a war about to be carried on on the banks of the ^ile. As each of the two parties sought to give the best colour to their projects and proceedings, at Damascus it was asserted that the caliph of Esypt had made an impious alliance with the disciples of Christ, whilst at Jerusalem it was asserted that the ^-izier Chaver, in defiance of treaties, kept up a perfidious correspondence with Xom-eddin. The Chi^istians were the first to violate theii' treaties. Amaury set out at the head of a numerous army, and appeared in the character of an enemy before Belbeis, which place he had promised to the knights of St. John, as a reward for the ardour and zeal they had shown for his expedi- tion. This city, situated on the right bank of the Nile, was besieged, taken by assault, and after being pillaged, consigned to the flames. The misfortunes of Belbeis spread consternation throughout Egypt, and the people, imtated at the account of the cruelties practised by the Pranks, took up arms and drove the Christian garrison out of Cairo. Chaver assembled troops in the pro^^.nces, fortified the capital, and set fire to the ancient city of Eostat, which burnt for more than six weeks. The caliph of Cairo again implored the assistance of Xoureddin, and to excite his pity and prove his distress, he sent him in a letter the hair of the women of his seraglio. The sultan of Damascus attended with joy to the prayers of the caliph of Egypt, and as an army was ready to march, he gave orders to Chirkou to cross the aesert and hasten to the banks of the Xile. ^Vhilst the Syrians were coming to the aid of Egypt, thi'eatened bv the Christians. Chaver emploved even' means in his power to stop the king of Jerusalem in his march, and suspend in his hands the thunderbolt ready to fall upoo
IIISTOET OF THE CRUSADES. 395 Egypt. Ambassadors were sent to implore the pity of Amaury, and to give some \Yeight to their prayers, offered him two millions of crowns of gold. The offer of so enormous a sum, which Egypt, for so long a time devastated, could not possibly have furnished, seduced the king of the Christians, who was as much inlluenced by a love of gold as an ambition for conquests. He allowed himself to be thus deceived by the Mussulmans, to whom he himself had been wanting in faith ; and whilst he was waiting for the treasures they had promised him, the Egyptians restored the fortifications of their cities, and assembled everywhere in arms. The Christians looked in vain for the fleets promised by Manuel, and soon, instead of welcoming auxiliaries, they learnt that Chirkou had arrived for the third time in Egypt at the head of a fonnidable army. Then Amaury opened his eyes, and set about repairing his error. He flew to meet the Syrians, and ofler them battle ; but their general avoided the encounter, and united his forces Avith those of the Egyptians. Tlie evil was irreparable ; the king of Jerusalem could not resist the two united armies, and ashamed of being deceived by those whom he had himself sought to deceive, he retui'ned to his kingdom, and was pursued to the verge of the desert by the troops of JN^oureddiu. Before the enterprise, hopes of success had dazzled the minds of all; but when it had failed, they, as generally, perceived the injustice of it. The Christians all became aware of the evils with which Jerusalem was menaced, and reproached Amaury with not being able to preserve peace, or knowing how to make war. In the mean time Noureddin's general entered the capital of Egypt in triumph. Chirkou hoisted his standard on the towers of Cairo, and Egypt, which thought it had received a liberator into its bosom, soon found that he was a master. Chaver paid with his life the evils he had inflicted upon his country ; he was killed in the camp of Chirkou, and his authority became the reward of the conqueror. The caliph, who, in order to save himself, had demanded the head of his first minister, appointed the general of Noureddin as his successor, styling him in his letters, the victorious i^ince. It was thus that the degraded monarch of Egypt jested with his own favours
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39^ niSTOHY OF THE CHrSADES.<br />
they would "be the first. Sucli a f\ivoiira"ble opportunity<br />
should not be neglected, or a conquest despised "which fortune<br />
appeared to oifer to the first power that should make<br />
its appearance in Egypt."<br />
Thus the kins: of Jerusalem and the sultan of Damascus<br />
entertained the same \'iews, and both made preparations for<br />
the same conquest. In the chiu'ches of the Christians, as in<br />
the mosques of the Mussulmans, prayers were put up for the<br />
success of a war about to be carried on on the banks of the<br />
^ile. As each of the two parties sought to give the best<br />
colour to their projects and proceedings, at Damascus it was<br />
asserted that the caliph of Esypt had made an impious<br />
alliance with the disciples of Christ, whilst at Jerusalem it<br />
was asserted that the ^-izier Chaver, in defiance of treaties,<br />
kept up a perfidious correspondence with Xom-eddin.<br />
The Chi^istians were the first to violate theii' treaties.<br />
Amaury set out at the head of a numerous army, and appeared<br />
in the character of an enemy before Belbeis, which<br />
place he had promised to the knights of St. John, as a reward<br />
for the ardour and zeal they had shown for his expedi-<br />
tion. This city, situated on the right bank of the Nile,<br />
was besieged, taken by assault, and after being pillaged,<br />
consigned to the flames.<br />
The misfortunes of Belbeis spread consternation throughout<br />
Egypt, and the people, imtated at the account of the<br />
cruelties practised by the Pranks, took up arms and drove<br />
the Christian garrison out of Cairo. Chaver assembled<br />
troops in the pro^^.nces, fortified the capital, and set fire to<br />
the ancient city of Eostat, which burnt for more than six<br />
weeks. The caliph of Cairo again implored the assistance of<br />
Xoureddin, and to excite his pity and prove his distress, he<br />
sent him in a letter the hair of the women of his seraglio.<br />
The sultan of Damascus attended with joy to the prayers of<br />
the caliph of Egypt, and as an army was ready to march, he<br />
gave orders to Chirkou to cross the aesert and hasten to the<br />
banks of the Xile.<br />
^Vhilst the Syrians were coming to the aid of Egypt,<br />
thi'eatened bv the Christians. Chaver emploved even' means<br />
in his power to stop the king of Jerusalem in his march, and<br />
suspend in his hands the thunderbolt ready to fall upoo
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