104 



Family of Giffard of Boy ton. 



by the treacherous Soldan of Egypt, determined to march upon 

 Cairo. The town of Mansoura was in the way of the march of the 

 Crusaders, and, without waiting for the main body of the army to 

 come up, the fiery Compte d'Artois determined to attack the town. 

 In vain did Longespee, and the Master of the Temple, and the 

 other Chiefs dissuade the rash d'Artois from his mad undertaking. 

 Accusing the other Generals of cowardice, he insisted upon an im- 

 mediate advance — the town seemed deserted, they had but to occupy 

 rather than to attack. So far Matt. Paris. The lay of the minstrel 

 then takes up the tale : — 



' ' With pity and grief let the tale now be told 

 Of Longspee the hardy, the warrior bold, 

 "Who at Babylon shed his life's blood so free, 

 As along with King Louis he led his armye. 

 At a castle of Egypt, Mansoura by name, 

 Which in Paynim renown shall be well known to fame, 

 For there was King Louis and there was his train 

 Bound fast in the Infidel's soul-goading chain." 



The accounts of both Matthew Paris and the Minstrel agree in 

 what follows : — Stung by the reproaches of d'Artois, the gallant 

 Longespee exclaimed, "Now proceed when you please, I will be 

 before you as eager as you will, I will still be the foremost I" The 

 Christian Knights rush forward — the gates of Mansoura are open — 

 nothing hinders, they dash through the gates ; but no sooner were 

 they thoroughly enclosed than the fearful stratagem of the Infidel 

 Host comes to view — the enemy rise up on every side — the city is 

 swarming with the Light Infantry of the Saracens. Arrows fly on 

 every side — ponderous stones are rolled down from the battlements ; 

 the Chroniclers declare that even poisoned arrows were amongst 

 the deadly artillery let loose upon them — the gates are closed — 

 they are hemmed into this fearful charnel house — the river prevents 

 escape on the only open side of the fortress — d'Artois seems to have 

 been early seized with a panic — he charges the opposing enemy — 

 cuts his way through the ranks and, plunging into the river, is 

 drowned. 



The English band of heroes remain — Sir Alexander GrifFard is 

 mentioned with Sir Robert de Yere, and other Knights as standing 



