large/11381/thestoryofoldfrance_1704_librivox_64kb_mp3/oldfrance_36_guerber_64kb_16
large/11381/thestoryofoldfrance_1704_librivox_64kb_mp3/oldfrance_36_guerber_64kb
English
11381
Such was the num  ber of dead that the air became infected, and the army, vainly trying to retreat, was attacked by a plague. SUCH WAS THE NUMBER OF DEAD THAT THE AIR BECAME INFECTED AND THE ARMY VAINLY TRYING TO RETREAT WAS ATTACKED BY A PLAGUE
of his nobles to join him. Leaving his mother officially regent of the realm during his absence, he sailed from a port in southern France, accompanied by his wife, his brother, and most of his court. Believing that Jerusalem could best be taken by first conquering Egypt, Louis directed his course thither, and Digitized by Google I30 OLD FRANCE landed at Dami-et'ta. The Saracens, drawn up on shore and waiting for him, were so amazed at the impetuosity of this king — who sprang overboard and waded ashore to encounter them sooner — that they turned and fled. Their panic enabled the crusaders to se- cure the city of Damietta, where they found great stores and much plunder. The French army remained here nearly five months without pursuing its advantage, thereby giving the enemy plenty of time to rally and make prep- arations for de- fense. Starting out then to capture Cairo, the French were hindered by the overflowing of the Nile, and at the Ford of Man- su'ra(i250) suffered a great defeat. UPON TAKING PART IN THE SIXTH CRUSADE AND PERSUADED MANY OF HIS NOBLES TO JOIN HIM LEAVING HIS MOTHER OFFICIALLY REGENT OF THE REALM DURING HIS ABSENCE HE SAILED FROM A PORT IN SOUTHERN FRANCE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE HIS BROTHER AND MOST OF HIS COURT BELIEVING THAT JERUSALEM COULD BEST BE TAKEN BY FIRST CONQUERING EGYPT LOUIS DIRECTED HIS COURSE THITHER AND LANDED AT DAMNIETTA THE SARACENS DRAWN UPON THE SHORE AND WAITING FOR HIM WERE SO AMAZED AT THE IMPETUOSITY OF THIS KING WHO SPRANG OVERBOARD AND WAITED ASHORE TO ENCOUNTER THEM SOONER THAT THEY TURNED AND FLED THEIR PANIC ENABLED THE CRUSADERS TO SECURE THE CITY OF DAMNIETA WHERE THEY FOUND GREAT STORES AND MUCH PLUNDER THE FRENCH ARMY REMAINED HERE NEARLY FIVE MONTHS WITHOUT PURSUING ITS ADVANTAGE THEREBY GIVING THE ENEMY PLENTY OF TIME TO RALLY AND MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE STARTING OUT THEN TO CAPTURE CAIRO THE FRENCH WERE HINDERED BY THE OVERFLOWING OF THE NILE AND AT THE FORD OF MANSURA TWELVE FIFTY SUFFERED A GREAT DEFEAT
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