This was all in favour of the king of Sicily, and loud murmurs soon
arose in the army. But what must have been the feelings of a real
hero when he came amongst them? By an agreement with Louis, Edward of
England was to take part in this expedition, and arrived in the camp
only a few days after the signing of the truce, with the Crusaders of
England and Scotland. The French and Sicilians were prodigal in their
demonstrations of welcome and respect, and received him with great
honours; but when he learnt they had made such a disgraceful peace, he
retired to his tent, and refused to be present at any of the councils
of the Christian leaders.
The Crusaders became impatient to leave this arid and unhealthy soil,
and the army embarked for Sicily. But as if this expedition was doomed
to be unfortunate, a violent tempest overtook the fleet when about
to enter the port of Trapani. Eighteen large ships and four thousand
Crusaders were submerged, and perished in the waves. Most of the
leaders lost their arms, their horses, and their equipments. But as
the crowning misfortune, and as if to point out the will of Heaven in
the case, the whole of the money paid by the king of Tunis went to the
bottom.
Of all this vaunted expedition, Edward of England was the only leader
who kept his word and followed up his purpose. He went to Palestine
in the spring, and, as every reader of history knows, distinguished
himself there greatly. Edward I., when prince, may be said to have been
the last Crusader of royal rank who appeared in Palestine. Here let me
remark an inadvertency I was about to commit; I wrote Edward, prince
of Wales, whereas his son, Edward of Caernarvon, was the first eldest
son of our kings who bore that title. This is a common error with us.
Shakspeare calls Louis, the father of Louis IX., dauphin when prince,
whereas that title did not belong to the sons of French monarchs till
more than a hundred years after Louis’ invasion of England.
FOURTH SIEGE, A.D. 1535.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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