Chapter I: Preface

AMONG the many adventurous enterprises which rendered the age of feudalism and chain-armour memorable in history, none were more remarkable or important than the 'armed pilgrimages' popularly known as the Crusades; and, among the expeditions which the warriors of mediaeval Europe undertook with the view of rescuing the Holy Sepulchre from the Saracens, hardly one is so interesting as that which had Louis IX. for its chief and Joinville for its chronicler.

In this volume I have related the adventures of two striplings, who, after serving their apprenticeship to chivalry in a feudal castle in the north of England, assumed the cross, embarked for the East, took part in the crusade headed by the saint-King of France, and participated in the glory and disaster which attended the Christian army, after landing at Damietta--including the carnage of Mansourah, and the massacre of Minieh.

In writing the 'Boy Crusaders' for juvenile readers, my object has been--while endeavouring to give those, for whose perusal the work is intended, as faithful a picture as possible of the events which Joinville has recorded--to convey, at the same time, as clear an idea as my limits would permit, of the career and character of the renowned French monarch who, in peril and perplexity, in captivity and chains, so eminently signalised his valour and his piety.

J. G. E.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE
I. A FEUDAL CASTLE 9
II. THE BROTHERS-IN-ARMS 14
III. THE HEIRS OF THE ESPECS 21
IV. ST. LOUIS 28
V. TAKING THE CROSS 36
VI. EMBARKING FOR THE EAST 41
VII. THE ARMED PILGRIMS AT CYPRUS 45
VIII. EASTWARD 49
IX. AN ADVENTURE 55
X. ON THE LADDER OF LIFE 60
XI. THE VOYAGE 68
XII. AT DAMIETTA 74
XIII. INCURSIONS 82
XIV. A RENEGADE 88
XV. CAPTURE OF A CARAVAN 96
XVI. A COUNCIL OF WAR 103
XVII. FACE TO FACE 109
XVIII. DELAY AND DANGER 113
XIX. THE CAPTIVE 119
XX. PASSING THE ACHMOUN 124
XXI. THE CARNAGE OF MANSOURAH 128
XXII. THE BATTLE 136
XXIII. HOW JOINVILLE KEPT THE BRIDGE 142
XXIV. THE FIRST FRIDAY IN LENT 150
XXV. MORTIFICATIONS AND MISERIES 158
XXVI. THE MASSACRE OF MINIEH 165
XXVII. JOINVILLE IN PERIL 173
XXVIII. NEWS OF DISASTER 181
XXIX. A WOUNDED PILGRIM 185
XXX. ST. LOUIS IN CHAINS 191
XXXI. THE TRAGEDY OF PHARESCOUR 199
XXXII. PERILS AND SUSPENSE 204
XXXIII. ACRE 210
XXXIV. A RESCUE 214
XXXV. MISSION TO BAGDAD 222
XXXVI. THE LAST OF THE CALIPHS 229
XXXVII. A RECOGNITION 234
XXXVIII. WOE TO THE CALIPH 240
XXXIX. IN THE LION'S MOUTH 246
XL. END OF THE ARMED PILGRIMAGE 253
XLI. A SUDDEN DISCOVERY 260
XLII. HOMEWARD BOUND 266
XLIII. A ROYAL VISIT 272
XLIV. THE FEAST OF KINGS 279

THE BOY CRUSADERS.