A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 2 | Page 5

king, and even gave him instructions now he might best conduct
himself to accomplish that enterprize, the king sent a message in all
haste to the Earl of Salisbury, requesting him to return to the army,
under promise of redressing all his grievances; on which he came back
and rejoined the French army.
The king of France now marched towards Cairo, and came to the great
river Nile, on the other side of which the Soldan had encamped with his
army, on purpose to dispute the passage. At this time, there was a
Saracen in the service of the Count of Artois, who had been lately
converted to the Christian faith, and who offered to point out a shallow
ford in the river, by which the army might easily cross over. Upon
receiving this intelligence, Artois and the master of the Knights

Templars, with about a third of the army, crossed to the other side, and
were followed by Salisbury and the English. These being all joined,
made an assault upon a part of the Saracen army which remained in the
camp, and overthrew them, the Soldan being then at some distance with
the greater part of his army.
After this easy victory, Artois was so puffed up with pride and elated
by success, that he believed nothing could withstand him, and would
needs advance without waiting for the coming up of the main body of
the army under the king of France, vainly believing that he was able
with the power he had to conquer the whole force of the Saracens. The
master of the Templars, and other experienced officers, endeavoured to
dissuade him from this rash conduct; advising him rather to return to
the main army, satisfied with the signal advantage he had already
achieved; that thereby the whole army of the Christians might act in
concert, and be the better able to guard against the danger of any
ambushes or other stratagems of war, that might have been devised for
their destruction. They represented to him that the horses of this
vanguard were already tired, and the troops without food; and besides,
that their numbers were utterly unable to withstand the vastly superior
multitude of the enemy; who besides, having now obviously to fight for
their last stake, the capital of their dominions, might be expected to
exert their utmost efforts. To this salutary counsel, the proud earl
arrogantly answered with opprobrious taunts; reviling the whole
Templars as dastardly cowards and betrayers of their country, and even
alleged that the Holy Land of the Cross might easily be won to
Christendom, if it were not for the rebellious spirit of the Templars and
Hospitallers, and their followers: which, indeed, was a common belief
among many. To these contumelious remarks, the master of the
Templars angrily desired him, in his own name and that of his
followers, to display his ensign when and where he dared, and he
should find them as ready to follow as he to lead. The Earl of Salisbury
now remonstrated with Artois, advising him to listen to these
experienced persons, who were much better acquainted with the
country and people than he could be; and endeavoured to convince him
that their advice was discreet and worthy to be followed. He then
addressed his discourse to the master of the Templars, prudently
endeavouring to sooth his anger against the arrogance of the Count of

Artois. But Artois cut him short, exclaiming in anger with many oaths,
"Away with these cowardly Englishmen with tails; the army would be
much better rid of these tailed people;" and many other scandalous and
disdainful expressions. To this the English earl replied, "Well, Earl
Robert, wherever you dare set your foot, my steps shall go as far as
yours; and I believe we shall go this day where you shall not dare to
come near the tails of our horses."
And it so happened as Earl William said: For Earl Robert of Artois
persisted to march forward against the Soldan, vainly hoping to win all
the glory to himself, before the coming up of the main body of the host.
His first enterprize was ordering an attack on a small castle, or fortified
village, called Mansor; whence a number of the villagers ran out, on
seeing the approach of the Christians, making a great outcry, which
came to the ears of the Soldan, who was much nearer with his army
than had been supposed. In the mean time, the Christians made an
assault on Mansor with too little precaution, and were repulsed with
considerable loss, many of them being slain by large stones, thrown
upon them as they entered the place; by which the army not only lost a
considerable number of men, but was much dispirited by this
unexpected repulse.