THE CHURCH HISTORIANS OF ENGLAND. REFORMATION PERIOD. THE ACTS AND MONUMENTS OF JOHN FOXE. CAREFULLY REVISED, WITH NOTES AND APPENDICES. VOL. II.-PART II. Seeleys, FLEET STREET AND HANOVER STREET. Henry 111 1250. But let us proceed further in this holy progress. The French king with his army seeing himself distressed, and no good there to be done against the Soldan of Egypt, after he had sufficiently fortified A.D. the city of Damietta with an able garrison left with the duke of Burgundy, he removed his tents from thence to go eastward. In his army also followed William Longspath (of whom mention was made before), accompanied with a picked number of English warriors, Grudge retained unto him: but such was the disdain of the Frenchmen between against this William Longspath and the Englishmen, that they French could not abide them, but flouted them in opprobrious manner, with English English tails," insomuch that the good king himself had much ado soldiers. to keep peace between them. 66 the gotten by diers Alexan of Wil The original cause of this grudge between them began thus: Booty there was, not far from Alexandria in Egypt, a strong fort or castle, the Eng replenished with great ladies, and rich treasure of the Saracens; this lish so.hold it chanced the said William Longspath, with his company of about English soldiers, to get, more by good luck and politic dexterity, dria. than by open force of arms; whereby he and his retinue were greatly enriched. When the Frenchmen had knowledge hereof, they, being not made privy thereto, began to conceive a heart-burning against the English soldiers, and could not speak well of them after that. It happened, not long after, that the said William had intelligence of a Ventucompany of rich merchants among the Saracens, going to a certain rous act fair about the parts of Alexandria; having their camels, asses, and liam mules, richly laden with silks, precious jewels, spices, gold and silver, spath with cart-loads of other wares, besides victuals and furniture, whereof the soldiers then stood in great need. He, having secret knowledge hereof, gathered all the power of Englishmen unto him that he could, and so, by night, falling upon the merchants, some he slew with their guides and conductors, some he took, some he put to flight. The Enriched carts with the drivers and the oxen, and the camels, asses, and mules, by Sarawith the whole carriage and victuals, he took, and brought with him, goods. losing in all the skirmish but one soldier, and eight of his servitors; some of whom, notwithstanding, he brought home wounded to be cured. Long by the This being known in the camp, forth came the Frenchmen, who wronged all this while loitered in their pavilions, and meeting their carriage by French. the way, took all the aforesaid prey wholly unto themselves, rating the said William and the Englishmen, for so adventuring and issuing out of the camp without leave or knowledge of their general, contrary to the discipline of war. William said again, he had done nothing but what he would answer to, whose purpose was to have the spoil divided to the behoof of the whole army. When this would not serve, he being sore grieved in his mind, so cowardly to be spoiled of that for which he had so adventurously travailed, went to the king to complain. But when no reason or complaint would serve, by reason Depart of the proud earl of Artois, the king's brother, who, upon despite and to disdain, stood against him, he, bidding the king farewell, said he Despite would serve him no longer. And so William de Longspath with of the the rest of his company, breaking from the French host, went to king's Acre. Upon whose departure, the earl of Artois said, "Now is the against army of Frenchmen well rid of these tailed people." Which words, lisa. Acre. ful word brother the Eng |