Chapter IV. How he foretold the overthrow of the Christians at Damietta

30. At the time when the army of the Christians was besieging Damietta, the Saint of God and some of his companions were there, for they had crossed the sea in their ardour for martyrdom. And when our soldiers were preparing for battle on a certain day, the holy man heard of it, and was exceedingly grieved, and said to his companion: "If they fight on such a day the Lord hath showed me that the Christians will not prosper. But if I tell them this I shall be deemed a fool, while if I keep silence I shall not elude my conscience. What, then, thinkest thou?" His companion answered: "Make no account of being judged by men, for thou art not now first beginning to be deemed a fool. Discharge thy conscience, and fear God rather than men." So the Saint arose and gave salutary warning to the Christians, urging them not to fight, and announcing disaster if they did. But they turned the truth into ridicule, hardened their hearts and refused to be warned. They went, they joined battle, they fought and our men were hard pressed by the foe. During the fight the Saint being in suspense made his companion go up to watch; and as he saw nothing the first and second times he bade him look out the third time: and, lo! the Christian army was in full flight, ending the day in shame and not in triumph. So great were the losses of our men in this disaster that 6,000 were killed and captured.1 The Saint was full of compassion for our men, nor were they less full of regret for what they had done. But he specially mourned over the Spaniards, when he saw that their greater impetuosity in fighting had left but a few of them remaining. Let the princes of the world take cognisance of these things, and know that it is not easy to fight against God, that is, against the Lord's will. Fro ward - ness is wont to end in destruction, for while it relies on its own strength it deserves not help from heaven. But if victory is to be hoped for from on high, battles must be fought in the spirit of God.