6 Sixtlie, that if anie man were taken with theft or pickerie,
and thereof conuicted, he should haue his head polled, and hot
pitch powred vpon his pate, and vpon that, the feathers of some
pillow or cushion shaken aloft, that he might thereby be knowne
for a theefe, and at the next arriuall of the ships to any land,
be put foorth of the companie to seeke his aduenture, without all
hope of returne vnto his fellowes.
These were the statutes which this famous prince did enact at the first
for his nauie, which sithens that time haue been verie much inlarged.
About the same time John Bishop of Whiterne in Scotland, suffragane to
the church of Yorke, ordeined Geffrey archbishop of Yorke, préest.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Paruus._] At the same season also the election of the
same Geffrey was confirmed by pope Clement, who among other things that
he wrote to the chapiter of Yorke on his behalfe, in the end he addeth
these words: "We do therefore admonish you all, and by the apostolicall
bulles command you, that you exhibit both reuerence and honour vnto him
as vnto your prelat, that thereby you may appeare commendable both
before God and man. Giuen at Lateran in the nones of March and third
yeare of our gouernment."
Whilest these things were in dooing, there came into France legats from
the said Clement, to mooue the two kings to make all the spéed possible
towards their iourneie, bicause of the great danger wherein things stood
in Palestine, requiring present helpe. Herevpon king Richard (his men
and prouision being readie) commanded that his ships should set forward,
[Sidenote: _Polydor._ King Richard set forward on his iournie. _Rog.
Houed._] & to coast about by the streicts of Giberalterre to come vnto
Marseilles, where he appointed to méet them, and so with a chosen
companie of men he also set foorth thitherwards by land, and comming to
Tours, receiued the scrip and staffe as a pilgrime should, at the hands
of the archbishop there.
After this, both the kings of England and France met at Vizeley in the
octaues of the natiuitie of S. John Baptist, and when they had remained
there two daies they passed foorth to the citie of Lion; [Sidenote: An.
Reg. 2.] where the two kings departed in sunder, and each one kept his
iournie, the one toward Guenes, where his nauie was appointed to come to
him, and the other to Marseilles, there to méet with his fléet,
according to his appointment. [Sidenote: The English fléet staied by
contrarie winds.] But the English ships being let and staied by the way
by contrarie winds and rigorous tempests, which tossed them[5] to and
fro vpon the coasts of Spaine, could not come in any conuenient time
vnto Marseilles, [Sidenote: Twentie gallies & twelue other vessels saith
_Houed._] so that king Richard thinking long to tarrie for them, &
perceiuing they could not kéepe their appointed time, he hired ships
from all places thereabouts, and embarking himselfe and his men in the
same, [Sidenote: Vpon the seauenth day of August saith _Houeden_.] vpon
saint Laurence euen, sailed foorth towards Sicile, where he was
appointed to méet with king Philip.
[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._] Here is to be noted, that king Richard made
not all that iourneie from Marseilles to Messina by sea, but sundrie
times comming on land, hired horsses, and rode foorth alongst the coast,
appointing with his ships and gallies where to meet him, and sometimes
he rested certeine daies togither in one place or other as at
Portdelphin, at Naples, and at Salerne, from whence there departed from
him Baldwine archbishop of Canturburie, Hubert bishop of Salisburie, and
the lord Ranulfe de Glanuille, the which taking vpon them to go before,
with prosperous wind and weather in short space landed at Acon, which
was then besieged, as you shall heare hereafter.
At Rome the king came not, but being within the streame of the riuer of
Tiber, there came to him a cardinall named Octauianus, bishop of Hostia,
[Sidenote: King Richard blameth the court of Rome for couetousnesse.] to
whome be spake manie reprochfull words of the couetousnesse vsed in the
court of Rome (a vice reputed the common nursse of all mischéefes, as
one verie well noteth,
Vbi auaritia est, habitant fermè omnia ibidem
Flagitia, impietas, periuria, furta, rapinæ,
Fraudes atq; doli, insidiæq; & proditiones,
Iurgia & infandæ cædes, &c.)
Bicause they had receiued seauen hundred marks for the consecration of
the bishop of Mauns, and 1500. marks for the confirming of the bishop of
Elie the popes legat. And againe no small summe of monie they had
receiued of the archbishop of Burdeaux, when vpon an accusation brought
against him by the cleargie of his prouince he should haue béene
deposed. In the meane time whiles king Richard thus passed forward
towards Messina, the nauie that was appointed to coast about Spaine and
to méet him at Marseilles, was tossed (as before is said) with wind and
tempests, and a part thereof, that is, to wit, ten ships driuen here and
there on the coasts of Spaine, of which number nine arriued at Lisbone
and the tenth being a ship of London arriued at the citie of Sylua,
which was then the vttermost citie of Spaine, that was inhabited with
christians.
The Saracens at that time made warres against the king of Portingale, so
that the Portingales stood in néed of aid, in so much that they of Sylua
did not onelie intreat the Englishmen to staie with them for a time, but
also got grant of them to breake their ship, with the timber whereof
they might the better fortifie their towne, promising that their king
should recompense them with an other as good as theirs, and also further
satisfie them for their seruice, during the time of their abode therein
defense of that citie. Likewise of those that arriued at Lisbone there
went to the number of fiue hundred vnto saint Iranes, [Sidenote: The king
of Portingale.] where the king of Portingale then was, looking to be
assaulted by his enimies: [Sidenote: Almiramumoli king of the Saracens.]
but by the counterfet[6] death of the great K. of the Saracens named
Boiac Almiramumoli (who feared these new succours, and doubted the
sequele of his dooings, to the end he might depart with honour, he
fained himselfe dead) the king of Portingale was for that time
presentlie deliuered out of danger.
Herevpon he returned to Lisbone, where he found three score and thrée
other ships of king Richards nauie there newlie arriued, [Sidenote:
Robert de Sabuuille. Richard de Camuille.] ouer the which were chéefe
capteins Robert de Sabuuille, and Richard de Camuille: which at their
comming to land could not so gouerne their people, but that some
naughtie fellowes amongst them fell to breaking and robbing of orchards:
some also entring into the citie, behaued themselues verie disorderlie.
But yet by the comming of the king, their lewdnesse was staied; so that
he seemed not to séeke reuenge of the pilgrims, but rather with
courteous meanes to bridle their vnlawfull attempts: wherevnto the
diligence of the English capteines not a little preuailed for a while,
but yet for all that could be done on both sides, within three daies
after, a new tumult was raised betwixt the English pilgrims and the
townesmen, and diuerse hurt and killed on either part.
[Sidenote: A mutinie betwixt the Englishmen and the townsmen of
Lisbone.] Wherevpon the king caused the gates of the citie to be shut,
and all those that were come from the ships into the citie to eat and
drinke (being in number about seauen hundred) were apprehended and
committed to ward: [Sidenote: Englishmen committed to prison.] and
before they could be released, sir Robert Sabuuille and sir Richard
Camuille were glad to agree with the king, so as all former offenses
being remitted, and things taken by either part restored, the Englishmen
promised to obserue the peace against the king of Portingale and his
people; and he likewise couenanted for him and his subiects, that they
should kéepe the peace against all pilgrims that went foorth in this
voiage, and vse them like his fréends, and thus the quarell ceased.
Soone after, the English nauie departed from Lisbone, and came into the
mouth of the riuer of Taie, betwéene Caperico and Belem, where the same
daie on saint James éeue the lord William de Forzdulerun arriued also
with thrée and thirtie other ships, [Sidenote: The English ships méet
togither.] and so then they were in all about an hundred and six sailes
verie well furnished and manned, and so from thence taking their course
towards Marseilles, finallie they arriued there in the octaues of the
assumption of our ladie; and staieng there an eight daies (till they had
repaired such things about their ships as were néedfull) they set
forward againe, and came to Messina in Sicile in the feast of the
exaltation of the crosse. On the sunday following also came the French
king thither, hauing lost no small part of his nauie by tempests of
weather.
[Sidenote: They arriue at Messina.] King Richard as then remained at
Salern, and hearing that his nauie was gone towards Messina, he departed
thence on the thirteenth day of September, and hasted forth towards
Messina, passing by Melphi and Cocenza, and so at length comming to Faro
de Messina, he passed the same, [Sidenote: K. Richard arriueth at
Messina.] and on the 23. day of September arriued at Messina with great
noise of trumpets and other instruments, to the woonder of the French
king and others that beheld his great puissance and roiall behauiour now
at this comming. The same time he went vnto the French kings lodging, to
commen with him of their businesse: and immediatlie the French king
tooke the sea, in purpose to haue passed forward on his iournie but by
contrarie wind he was staied and kept backe within the hauen, wherevpon
both the kings determined to winter there, and in the meane time to
prouide themselues of alle things necessarie for their iournie, against
the beginning of the next spring. On the 30. of September he receiued
his sister the quéene of Sicile, the widow of William the late king of
that Ile, whom he placed in a strong fortresse, which he tooke the same
day and left therein a conuenient garison of men of armes and demilances
for the safegard of the place and of his said sister.
¶ But now for the better vnderstanding of the cause of such quarelling
as fell out betwixt the Englishmen and the Sicilians, yée shall
vnderstand that a little before the arriuall of the kings of England and
France in those parts, king William of Sicile was departed this life,
leauing no issue behind him. Wherevpon the lords of the Ile elected one
Tancred to their king, a bastard sonne of Roger sometime king of that
land, and grandfather to this last decessed king William. This Tancred
though he receiued king Richard verie courteouslie; yet he greatlie
trusted him not, bicause he demanded the dowrie of his sister quéene
Joane, wife to the late king William to be restored, whereas he had not
readie monie to discharge it.
[Sidenote: A chaire of gold.] Furthermore to depart with the citie of
Mount saint Angelo; with all the countrie therevnto belonging; which was
indéed assigned to hir for hir dowrie, he thought in no wise profitable:
[Sidenote: K. Richards demands for the dowrie of his sister wife to K.
William.] but king Richard did not onelie require that citie and countie
with a chaire of gold, according to the custome of that kingdome in
right of his sister, as due to hir by way of hir dowrie, but also he
required to his owne vse a table of gold conteining twelue foot in
length, and one foot and a halfe in breadth, & two tressels of gold to
beare vp the same table, with 24. siluer cups, and as manie dishes of
siluer, with a tent of silke of such largenesse that two hundred knights
might sit at meat within it: also fortie thousand measures of wheat,
with as manie of barlie, and as manie of wine, beside one hundred armed
gallies, with all furniture and vittels sufficient to serue the
gallie-men in the same for the terme of two yeares. These things he
demanded as due to him being heire to his father king Henrie,
accordinglie as was deuised by king William in his last will and
testament, which demands seemed intollerable to the said Tancred: so
that if he could haue shifted the matter, he was loth to haue heard
thereof.
Moreouer, bicause pope Clement in right of the church pretended a title
to the realme of Sicile, now that king William was dead without heires,
he doubted of some practise that might be made against him betwixt king
Richard and the pope. Wherevpon he thought to prouide against all
attempts that might be made, fortifieng his townes & castels with strong
garisons, and tooke counsell with the citizens of Messina, by what
meanes he might soonest dispatch his countrie of that present danger,
and procure K. Richard to get him forward on his iournie.
Whilest these things were in hand, there was ministred to the English
men occasion of displeasure: for as it oftentimes chanceth (where an
armie is) certeine of the vnrulie souldiers within Messina vsed
themselues somewhat riotouslie, wherevpon the citizens offended
therewith, got them to armour, and chased all the souldiers out of the
citie. King Richard who laie in campe without the walles néere to the
citie, was so highlie displeased herewith, that he caused his men to
arme themselues, and to prepare ladders and other necessarie things to
assault the citie: but by the mediation of the French king & curteous
excuse of king Tancred (alledging the fault to rest onelie in a sort of
rude citizens, whome he promised to punish) the matter was taken vp, and
staied for a time, till at length it was perceiued, that the Sicilians
subtilie went about to feed king Richard with faire words, till he
should be readie to set forwards on his iournie, and so should the
matter passe without further punishment.
Herevpon king Richard, not minding to be so mocked at their hands,
approched one daie to the wals and gates with his armie in good araie of
battell to giue the assault, [Sidenote: K. Richard assalteth and entreth
the citie by force.] which was doone so earnestlie, and so well
mainteined, that finallie the citie was entred by force, and manie of
the citizens slaine, but the slaughter had béene much greater, if king
Richard had not commanded his men to spare the sword, mooued with the
lamentable noise of poore people crieng to him for mercie and grace. The
Englishmen hauing got possession of the citie pight vp the banners with
the armes of the king of England round about the wals, wherewith the
French king was sore displeased, and required that the same might be
taken downe, and his set vp: but the king of England would not so agrée.
Neuerthelesse to pacifie the French kings mood, he deliuered the citie
of Messina into the custodie of the knights Templers and Hospitalers,
till he might be satisfied of such things as he demanded of king
Tancred.
After this on the 8. daie of October, the two kings of England and
France, before a great number of earles, barons, and others, both of the
cleargie and temporaltie, [Sidenote: The two kings of England and France
receiue a solemne oth.] tooke their solemne othes, that the one should
defend the other, and also either others armie in this iournie, both
comming and going, without fraud or deceipt: and the like oth was
receiued by the earles and barons on both parties. Then the two kings by
aduise and consent of both their armies deuised these ordinances.
[Sidenote: Ordinances deuised.]
1 That all pilgrims which chanced to die in this iournie might
dispose at their pleasure all their armour, horsses, and
apparell, and halfe of those things which they had with them, so
that they sent nothing home into their countries, and the other
halfe should be at the discretion of Walter archbishop of Rouen,
Manser bishop of Langres, of the maister of the temple, and of
the maister of the Hospitall, of Hugh duke of Burgoigne, of Rafe
de Coucie, of Drogo de Marlow, of Robert Sabuill, Andrew de
Chauennie, and of Gilbert Wascoile, which should imploie the same
towards the support of the wars in the holie land against the
infidels as they thought most expedient.
[Sidenote: Plaie forbidden.]
2 That no man should plaie at anie game within the armie for
monie, except knights and chapleins, the which should not loose
in one daie and night aboue 20 shillings, they to forfeit an 100
shillings so oft as they lost aboue that summe: the persons
aforenamed to haue the same to be distributed as afore is said.
The two kings might plaie, and command their seruants in their
presence likewise to plaie, so that they excéeded not the summe
of 20 shillings. And also the seruants of archbishops, bishops,
earles and barons, by their maisters commandement might play, not
excéeding that summe: but if anie seruants or mariners, or other
of like degrée, were found to play without licence, the seruants
should be whipped naked three daies round about the campe, except
they ransomed foorth themselues, at the pleasure of the persons
aboue named: and the mariners should be plunged ouer head and
eares in the sea three mornings togither, after the vse of
seamen, except they redeem that punishment, at the discretion
likewise of the said persons: and those of other like meane
degrées being neither knights nor chapleins should be punished as
seruants.
[Sidenote: Borrowing.]
3 That if anie pilgrime borrowed anie thing of an other whilest
he was on his iournie, he should be bound to paie it: but if he
borrowed it before his setting foorth, he was not bound to answer
it till his returne home.
[Sidenote: Souldiers or mariners departing from their masters.]
4 That if anie mariner or seruant, reteined in wages with anie
man in this iournie, departed from his master without licence, no
other person might receiue him, and if he did, he should be
punished at the discretion of the forenamed persons.
[Sidenote: Vittelers.]
5 That no vitteler or other should buy any bread to sell againe,
nor any meale within the compasse of the campe, except the same
were brought by a stranger, neither might they buy any paast or
other thing to sell againe in the campe, or within a league of
it.
6 That if anie man bought corne wherof to make bread, it was
appointed how much he should gaine in one measure beside the
bran.
7 That other occupiers, which vsed buieng and selling of wares,
should gaine one penie in 10 pence, neither should anie man
refuse anie of the kings coine, except it were broken within the
circle.
8 That no man should buy anie flesh to sell it againe, except a
liuing beast, which he should kill within the campe.
9 That no man should make bread to sell, but after the rate of
penie loaues. Wherin the penie English was appointed to go for
foure pence Aniouine. All these ordinances with other were
decreed and ordeined to be obserued and kept by the counsell,
consent, and agreement of the kings of England, France, and
Sicile.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._] But to returne now to the dissention betwixt the
Englishmen and them of Messina: ye shall vnderstand that the tumult
being once ceassed, and diuerse of the chéefe offenders in the late
commotion put to death, king Tancred shortlie after came thither, and
sought to auoid all suspicion out of king Richards head, that he might
conceiue of him for béeing in anie wise culpable in that which his
subiects of Messina had attempted against him, and therefore hauing
recouered monie of his freends, he restored vnto king Richard the dowrie
of his sister quéene Joane, and further offered vnto him to ioine in new
alliance with him, offering his daughter in mariage vnto Arthur duke of
Britaine, the kings nephue, with a great summe of monie for hir dowrie,
if it so should please him.
King Richard accepted the offer, and so ioined in peace and affinitie
with the king of Sicile, receiuing of him twentie thousand ounces of
gold for the same mariage to be had, and an honorable dowrie assigned
foorth of the lands that belonged to the said Arthur for the said ladie
to inioy during hir life, in case she suruiued hir husband. And if it so
chanced, that by the death of either of them the mariage could not take
place, then should king Richard restore the same twentie thousand
ounces of gold againe. But beside these twentie thousand ounces of gold
thus giuen by king Tancred for the mariage of his daughter, he gaue
other twentie thousand ounces to king Richard for an acquitance and
quite claime of all manner of duties, rights, and demands, which either
he or his sister might pretend, either by reason of anie bequest,
dowrie, or anie other manner of waie.
Here is to be noted, that before this conclusion of peace was had, king
Richard prouided for his owne defense, in case that king Tancred and his
people would haue attempted force against him, in so much that he
fortified certeine places, and built a strong castell aloft vpon the top
of an hill fast by Messina, which castell he called Mategriffon. Also
whereas the admirall of Sicile called Margaret, and one Jordane del
Poine, men of great authoritie vnder king Tancred, fled out of Messina
with all their families and riches, which they had either in gold or
siluer, king Richard seized vpon their houses, their gallies, and
possessions, so that he made himselfe as strong as he could, to resist
all attempts that might be made against him by his enimies. But now to
procéed.
The variance being thus appeased betwixt them, great discord chanced to
arise betwixt king Richard and king Philip, who was much offended with
king Richard, for that he had thus vsed violence against them of
Messina, and compelled king Tancred to agrée with him for monie,
[Sidenote: The lawes of Herberrough.] to the great offense and breach of
the lawes of Herberrough, sith the Sicilians verie liberallie aided and
furnished the christians armie with vittels and necessarie prouisions.
The Frenchmen also had much enuie thereat, [Sidenote: Englishmen and
Frenchmen fought.] that shortlie after vpon a small occasion they picked
a quarell against the Englishmen, and from words fell to strokes on both
sides, so that there had beene much hurt & slaughter committed,
[Sidenote: Discord in an armie the hinderer of all profitable
enterprises.] if the two kings had not doone their best to appease the
fraie begun.
But this businesse though it was quietlie as then taken vp and staied,
yet bred it such displeasure betwixt the princes and their people, that
it turned to the great hurt and hinderance of their good proceedings in
their whole enterprise, so that the occasion of a full and perfect
victorie easilie slipped out of their hands, as you shall heare
hereafter.
An other also of the chéefest causes of grudge betwixt the two kings
was, for that king Richard in familiar talke confessed vnto king Philip,
that he would marie the king of Nauarres daughter, and cléerelie forsake
his sister Adela: which gréeued king Philip not a little, though he
dissembled the matter for a time, and rather alledged other causes of
displeasure, wherewith to defame king Richard to the world, as one that
sought his owne commoditie in spoiling those whom he ought rather to
haue defended. But to proceed.