in Sicile, notwithstanding the troubles aforesaid, to the hinderance of
king Richards purposes, for the making of his prouisions readie for his
iournie, he yet caused engins to be framed, his ships to be newlie
calked, rigged and repaired of such hurts as they had receiued both in
their long voiage which they had made, and also by certeine wormes, the
which during their lieng there, had in diuerse places gnawne and eaten
them through to the great danger of their losse, and vtter decaie.
[Sidenote: Wreckes pardoned.] Moreouer at the same time he pardoned all
wrecks by sea through all his dominions, releasing for euer all his
right to the same, in such wise that euerie person making wrecke by sea,
and comming aliue to land, should haue all his goods frée and cleare to
himselfe. Furthermore he decréed, that if he chanced to perish in the
ship, then his sons and daughters, brethren or sisters, that could
prooue themselues to be next heires to him, should haue the same goods;
but if he had neither sonne nor daughter, brother nor sister, then
should the king haue those goods by waie of his prerogatiue.
This resignation made by king Richard, was confirmed by his charter
giuen at Messina in the moneth of October and second yeare of his
reigne. Also vpon a godlie repentance wherewith it did please the
mercifull God to touch his hart, he called all those prelats togither
which were then with him at Messina into the chappell of Reginald de
Moiac, [Sidenote: K. Richards confession.] & there in presence of them
all falling downe vpon his knees he confessed the filthie life which he
had in lecherous lust before that time led, and humblie receiued penance
inioined him by the same bishops, and so became a new man, fearing God,
and delighting to liue after his lawes.
[Sidenote: Abbat Joachim.] Furthermore hearing of the great fame of
abbat Joachim, he sent for him ouer into Calabria, who came to Messina,
and being asked sundrie questions by king Richard, he made woonderfull
answer thereto: as in Houeden and other writers it may appéere, which
for breefenesse I passe ouer. About the same time he gaue vnto his
nephue Otho, the sonne of his sister Maud, sometime duchesse of Saxonie,
the countie of Yorke. But although some were contented to receiue him as
their lord, and to doo homage to him, yet other refused him, alledging
that they would not renounce their fealties due to the king, till they
might sée him againe, & talke with him face to face. Wherevpon the king
changing his purpose, gaue vnto the said Otho the countie of Poictou in
steed of the said countie of Yorke, as after shall appeere.
[Sidenote: 1191.] The two kings of England and France held their
Christmasse this yeare at Messina, and still the king of England vsed
great liberalitie in bestowing his treasure freelie amongst knights and
other men of warre, [Sidenote: The large expenses of K. Richard.] so
that it was thought he spent more in a moneth than anie of his
predecessours euer spent in a whole yeare. In the moneth of Februarie he
sent his gallies to Naples, there to receiue his mother and his wife
that should be, to wit the ladie Berengaria daughter to the king of
Nauarre, and Philip earle of Flanders that came with them. But his
mother quéene Elianor and the ladie Berengaria went to Brindize in
Puglia, where they were honorablie receiued of Margaret king Tancreds
admirall. [Sidenote: The earle of Flanders.] Moreouer the earle of
Flanders comming to Naples, and finding there the gallies of king
Richard, went aboord the same, and so came to Messina, at the first
following the king of England in all things, till the French king hauing
enuie thereat, allured him awaie, and then he hoong altogither on his
sléeue. The first daie of March the king of England departed from
Messina, to go to the citie of Cathina, there to common with king
Tancred, who came thither to meet him.
[Sidenote: K. Richard talketh with king Tancred.] Here king Richard
vnderstood, that the French king had sollicited king Tancred to set vpon
the king of England and his armie, to chase them out of his realme: and
for the more easie accomplishment thereof, he had promised him his aid,
whensoeuer he would giue the aduenture. King Tancred deliuered also to
king Richard such letters as the French king had written to him
concerning this matter. Wherevpon at his returne to Messina, king
Richard shewed by his frowning countenance, that he was nothing pleased
with the French king, but sought occasions to get him out of his
companie.
The French king perceiuing it, required to vnderstand the cause of this
sudden mutation: wherevpon king Richard nothing fearing his power,
declared the truth plainelie vnto him by the mouth of the earle of
Flanders: and when the other denied the practise, he for proofe of the
thing, shewed him the same letters which king Tancred had deliuered vnto
him. The French king was not a little abashed hereat, and wist not well
what to saie, nor what excuse to make, the matter was so plaine. But yet
at length he said: "Well now I perceiue the king of England seeketh to
haue some quarell whie he may refuse to marrie with my sister. For these
are but forged matters, and no truth resteth in them."
When the king of England vnderstood this maner of answer, he replied in
this wise; "That as for the French kings sister, he might not marrie,
for as much as he was able to produce good witnesse to prooue that his
father had lien with hir and got a child of hir. And as for his priuie
procéeding and practise with Tancred, he néeded no further testimonie
than his owne hand and his seale, the partie himselfe being present who
receiued them, the messenger also being not far off that carried them
betwéene both the parties."
When the French king was throughlie informed of the first point, through
counsell of the earle of Flanders and others, he pacified himselfe, and
was contented to release the king of England of his faith giuen by oth
for the contract made with his sister Alice: in consideration of which
releasement and deliuerance, the king of England couenanted to giue
yearelie to the French king two thousand marks of starling coine for the
terme of fiue yeares togither: and at his returne home, it was agreed,
that he shuld also deliuer vnto the French king his sister the said
ladie Alice, with the towne of Gisors, and all other things which the
French king had granted to him with his said sister. On the other part,
the French king granted, that the dutchie of Britaine should apperteine
to the dominion of the dutchie of Normandie, so as the duke of Britaine
should be accompted the liege man of the duke of Normandie, and that the
duke of Normandie should answer the French king for both the dutchies,
as well of Britaine as Normandie. These agréements were ratified and
confirmed with solemne oths receiued, and charters giuen vnder their
hands and seales, vpon the 30. of March.
[Sidenote: The French king setteth foorth from Messina towards the
holie[7] land.] About this time the French king (now that the season of
the yeare was come) set forward toward the holie land, leauing king
Richard behind him in Sicile: and the two and twentith day after his
setting foorth from Messina, he arriued at the siege of Acres or Acon.
The same day also that the French king departed from Messina, queene
Elianor the mother of king Richard arriued there, bringing with hir the
ladie Berengaria the daughter of Sanctius the king of Nauarre,
[Sidenote: Quéene Elianor returneth by Rome.] and the fourth day after
quéene Elianor tooke leaue of hir sonne king Richard, and departed
homeward towards England, taking hir iournie by Rome about the businesse
of Geffrey the elect of Yorke, as to entreat the pope that he would
confirme and consecrate him archbishop, or to authorise some other to
doo it in his name. The ladie Berengaria remained behind with the kings
sister Joane quéene of Sicile.
After this in the moneth of Aprill, on the Wednesday in the passion
weeke, king Richard (after he had finished and made an end of all
conclusions with king Tancred) did also set forward with his sister
Joane, who tooke with hir the ladie Berengaria daughter to the king of
Nauarre, affianced to him long before, as aboue is partlie mentioned.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ 130. ships and 53. galies saith _Rog.
Houed._] His nauie consisted in thirteene mightie great ships with
triple sailes, an hundred carikes or rather hulkes, and fiftie gallies.
He was no sooner abroad in the maine sea, but a great tempest arose,
wherewith his whole nauie was sore tossed and turmoiled vp and downe the
seas, and at length driuen on the coast of Cypres, where séeking to take
harbour, & to come on land, the Cypriots would not suffer him, but
shewed countenance to driue him backe, and to resist his landing. Also
whereas six of his ships were so driuen by force of tempest from the
residue, that thrée of them perished, and three being cast vpon the
shoare of Cypres before the kings arriuall there, the souldiers and
other people in the same were compelled to come on land for sauing their
liues, where otherwise they stood in danger of drowning, the people of
the Ile assailing them in right cruell sort, slue diuerse, and tooke the
residue prisoners, and so deteined them for a certeine season.
King Richard then vnderstanding this iniurie to him doone by the
Cypriots, & perceiuing they would resist his landing, prepared himselfe
and his people to enter vpon them by force. The king of Cypres Isakius
or Cursach (whome Houeden nameth emperour of Cypres) had assembled the
most part of all the power of men that he might make (though few of them
were armed, or had any great skill in feats of warre) and caused them to
set boords, logs of wood, benches, formes, and great chests afore them,
as a defense, and as it were in steed of a wall, that by succour thereof
they might the better kéepe off their enimie from landing.
But K. Richard, so incouraged his men by his presence, & hartened them
with such comfortable words as he vttered vnto them, that rowing to the
shoare with their galies and small botes, hauing the archers afore them,
[Sidenote: The Englishmen take land & chase their enimies.] they easilie
got to land, droue their enimies backe, and so farre pursued them (being
but footmen, weatherbeaten, wearie, and weat) as conuenientlie they
might, for the shortnes of time. King Richard hauing thus got foot on
land, approched the towne of Limezun, which he with his souldiers
entred, and finding it emptie of people (which were fled awaie) but full
of riches and great plentie of victuals, as corne, wine, oile, and
flesh, he seized therevpon.
The same day also the kings sisters and the ladie Berengaria with the
residue of the kings nauie entred the hauen of Limezun. In the meane
time the king of Cypres (hauing escaped from the battell) got togither
his men which were fled and dispersed sundrie waies, and incamped within
six miles of king Richard, threatning that the next day he would
eftsoones giue battell: which when king Richard vnderstood, he caused
his people to be armed the next morning long before day, and so comming
by guides vnto the place where the Cypriots with their king were lodged,
[Sidenote: King Richard with a camisado vanquisheth the Cypriots, &
chaseth them out of their campe. _Iohn Textor._] suddenlie they assailed
them yer they had anie warning of his marching towards them, by reason
whereof they were slaine like beasts in great numbers. Howbeit, their
king and a few other escaped and fled away naked, hauing no time to put
on their apparell, his treasure, horsse, armour and standard were taken,
which standard king Richard straitwaies determined to send vnto saint
Edmunds shrine, and so did.
Having thus vanquished his aduersaries, he came backe to Limezun: and
the third day after, [Sidenote: The K. of Jerusalem and other noble men
doo fealtie vnto king Richard.] Guie king of Jerusalem and his brother
Geffrey de Lucignan with the prince of Antioch Raimond and his sonne
named also Raimond earle of Tripoli, with other noble men, arriued at
Limezun aforesaid, to visit king Richard, and to offer him their
seruices, and so became his men, in swearing fealtie to him against all
other persons whatsoeuer.
The same day the king of Cypres perceiuing himselfe vnable to resist the
great puissance of king Richards armie, sent ambassadours, [Sidenote:
The offers of the king of Cypres.] and offered to king Richard the summe
of twentie thousand marks of gold, in recompense of the monie which his
men that were drowned had about them, and also to restore those to
libertie which he had taken prisoners, and to make deliuerie to their
hands of all their goods. Furthermore he offered to go with him into the
holie land personallie, and to serue him with an hundred knights 400
light horssemen, and 500 well armed footmen, & also to deliuer to king
Richard his daughter and heire in hostage, [Sidenote: The king of Cypres
submitteth himselfe.] and to acknowledge him his souereigne lord, by
swearing to him fealtie for his kingdome, as for that which he should
confesse to hold of him.
King Richard accepted these offers, and so the king of Cypres came in
and sware fealtie to king Richard, in presence of the king of Jerusalem,
the prince of Antioch, and other barons, and promised vpon his oth then
receiued, not to depart till all things couenanted on his part were
performed. Then king Richard assigned tents for him and his to lodge in,
and appointed certeine knights and other men of warre to haue the
custodie of him. But the same day after dinner vpon repentance of that
which he had doone, he deceiued his keepers and stale awaie, sending
knowledge backe to the king that he would not stand to the couenants,
which were concluded vpon betwixt them.
King Richard seemed to like the matter well enough, and foorthwith
deliuered a part of his armie vnto the king of Jerusalem and to the
prince of Antioch, appointing them to persue the king of Cypres by land,
whilest he with one part of his gallies and Robert de Turneham with the
other might search about the coast by sea, to prohibit his passage by
water. In euerie place where they came, such ships and gallies as they
found they seized into their hands, and no resistance was made against
them, by reason the people fled to the woods and mountains, leauing the
cities, townes and castels void in all stéeds, [Sidenote: Robert de
Turneham.] where the king or the said sir Robert de Turneham with their
vessels began to appéere. When they had taken their pleasure thus
alongst the coasts, they returned againe vnto Limezun. The king of
Jerusalem and the other that went foorth by land, when they could not
spéed of their purpose, returned also, in which meane time a great
number of Cypriots came in, and submitting themselues to king Richard,
were receiued as his subiects.
[Sidenote: The king of England marieth the ladie Berengaria. She is
crowned quéene.] On the 12. daie of Maie, the ladie Berengaria daughter
to the king of Nauarre was maried according to a precontract vnto king
Richard at Limezun aforesaid in the Ile of Cypres, one of the kings
chaplins executing the order of the marriage. The same daie also she was
crowned by the bishop of Eureux, the archbishops of Apamea and Aux, with
the bishop of Baion ministring vnto him. After the solemnitie of this
marriage and coronation ended, king Richard set forward with his armie
into the countrie of Cypres, and first wan (by surrender) the citie of
Nichosia, and after the strong castell of Cherin, within the which was
the daughter of the king of Cypres, which ladie humblie yeelded hir
selfe vnto K. Richard, (who counting it reproach to be extreme with such
as submit themselues, and speciallie the female sex, according to the
old saieng,
Pacere subiectis nobilis scit ira leonis)
had pitie of hir case, and sent hir to his wife the new quéene, willing
that she might be honorablie vsed. From thence passing forward,
[Sidenote: Castels deliuered to the king of England.] these castels were
deliuered into his hands, Baffes and Buffeuent, Den, Amur, Candace, and
afterwards all the other castels and cities, townes and places of
strength within that Ile one after an other. Finallie, hearing that the
king of Cypres was inclosed in an abbie called Cap S. Andrew, he marched
thitherwards: [Sidenote: The king of Cyprus again submitteth himselfe to
the king of England.] but when the king of Cypres heard of his approch,
he came foorth and submitted himselfe wholie into his hands. [Sidenote:
Rafe Fitz Geffrey.] The king first appointed him to the kéeping of his
chamberlaine Rafe Fitz Geffrey, and after sent him into the citie of
Tripoli, there to be kept in close prison. Who when he heard he should
be committed to close prison, and remaine in fetters, said, "that if he
laie in irons, he should shortlie end his life." Wherevnto king Richard
when he heard of it, answered: "He saith well, and therefore bicause he
is a noble man, and our mind is not to haue him dead, but onelie to be
kept safe from starting anie more awaie, and dooing new hurt, let him be
chained in giues and fetters made of siluer," and so he was.
But to procéed. After the king had set the countrie of Cypres in good
staie, [Sidenote: He arriued there on the saturdaie in Whitsunwéek,
being the saturdaie also next before the feast of S. Barnabie.
_Galfridus._ _Vinsant._] he deliuered the keeping thereof vnto Richard
de Camuille and Robert de Turneham. This doone vpon the wednesdaie in
the Whitsunwéeke he tooke the sea againe, and passed ouer to the citie
of Acres, which as then was besieged by the christian armie, as ye may
read in the description of the holie land, onelie giuing you to
vnderstand, that such was the valiancie of king Richard shewed in
manfull constreining of the citie, that his praise was greatlie bruted
both amongst the christians and also the Saracens.
Howbeit the secret enimitie betwixt him and the French king eftsoones
reuiued, by occasion of such discord as chanced betwixt Guido king of
Jerusalem, and Conrade the marques of Tire, so that parties were taken,
and whereas both the Pisans and Geneuois did offer their seruice vnto
king Richard, yet bicause the Geneuois were confederat with the French
king, who tooke part with the marques, he refused them, [Sidenote:
Pisans and Geneuois.] and receiued the Pisans, ioining himselfe with
king Guido to support him against his enimies.
Here is to be remembred, that before king Richard arriued at the siege,
he incountred on the sea a mightie great ship called a Drommond,
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._ _Nic. Triuet._ Saphaldine the brother of
Saladine.] which one Saphaldine the brother of Saladine a prince of the
Saracens had sent, to refresh them with vittels. This ship king Richard
caused féercelie to be assailed with his gallies, and at length bowged
hir with all the vittels and prouision within the same, as wild-fire,
barels of firie serpents, armour and weapons of sundrie sorts, besides
all the mariners and men of warre, except such as were taken to mercie
and saued aliue, being about 200 in the whole, whereas there were aboord
the same ship 500 men of warre, [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ _N. Triuet._]
as some write, though other haue but 800.
¶ But now to other accidents that chanced this yere. On Midsummer eeue
there was such an eclipse of the sunne, [Sidenote: An eclipse of the
sunne.] the moone being the same time 27 daies old, that for the space
of thrée houres (for so long it lasted) such darkness came ouer the face
of the earth, [Sidenote: The seuenth houre of the daie saith _Matth.
Paris._] that euen in the daie time (for this eclipse began about nine
of the clocke in the morning) the stars appeared plainelie in the
element.
In the same moneth of June, Richard de Camuille, whome the king had left
(as ye haue heard) gouernour in Cypres, chanced to fall sicke, and
comming without licence to the siege of Acres, [Sidenote: Richard de
Camuille deceasseth.] there died. After whose death the Cypriots and
those called Griffones and Ermians reuolted from the English obedience,
and chose to them a king, one that was a moonke of the familie of
Isachus their former king: but Robert de Turneham, who after the
deceasse of Richard Camuille remained sole gouernour of the Ile,
gathered a power of men togither, and giuing battell to the new king
(whom Houeden nameth also emperour) vanquished him with his complices,
tooke him prisoner, and hanged him on a paire of galowes. The same
moneth also died Rafe Fitz Geffrey, who had the other king Isac in
custodie, and then king Richard deliuered him to the knights of the
hospitall, who sent him to the castell of Margant, there safelie to be
kept as prisoner to the vse of the king of England.
Now will we returne vnto the affaires of England and make some mention
of the dooings there. Yee shall vnderstand, that after king Richard was
set forward on his iournie, William Longchampe lord chancellour and
bishop of Elie, [Sidenote: _Polydor._] appointed (as ye haue heard)
gouernour of the realme, began to exercise his authoritie to the
vttermost, taking vpon him the state of a prince, rather than of a
subiect. He had of late (as before ye haue heard) procured such fauor at
the hands of pope Clement, [Sidenote: The Lord chancellor called the
popes legat in England.] that he was instituted by him legat of the
apostolike see here in England, so that pretending a rule both ouer the
clergie and temporaltie, and by reason that he had both the authoritie
of pope and king in his hands, he vsed the same to his most aduantage,
as well in causes ecclesiasticall as temporall, whereby he wrought manie
oppressions both against them of the clergie and temporaltie. [Sidenote:
The statelie port of the lord chancellor. _Ran. Higd._] He mainteined
such a port and countenance in his dooings, that he would ride with a
thousand horsses, by meanes whereof when he came to lie at abbeis and
other places (bringing with him such a traine) he was verie burdenous
vnto them, speciallie when he laie at their houses any space of time.
[Sidenote: A conuocation.] This man called a conuocation at Westminster,
wherein at the suit of Hugh Nouant bishop of Chester, it was decreed,
[Sidenote: Moonks of Couentrie displaced. _Polydor._ _Ran. Higd._ _Wil.
Paruus._ The occasion. _Ran. Higd._] that the moonks of Couentrie should
be displaced, and secular canons brought into that house to supplie
their roomes. Which was doone by the authoritie of the said lord
chancellour, being bribed by the foresaid bishop of Chester (as some
writers haue recorded) for displeasure which he bare to the moonks, by
reason of a fraie which they had made vpon the said bishop in their
church at Couentrie, and drawne bloud of him before the alter there, as
he alledged.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Paruus._] But some haue written, that the bishop of
Chester procured a licence of the pope, to alter the state of that
church in sort aboue mentioned, which is most likelie, surmising against
the moonks, that they were most manifest and stubborne disturbers of
that peace and quietnesse which ought to remaine amongst churchmen:
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Polydor._] and yet he himselfe sowed the strife
and dissention amongst them, and namelie betwéene the prior and his
couent. Moreouer, the said lord chancellour depriued such rulers of
their administrations and gouernements, as the king had appointed to
beare any high authoritie within the realme, pretending not onelie the
kings commandement, but also alleadging a reason which mooued him so to
doo, as thus, [Sidenote: The L. chancellors reason.] that he might
thereby take awaie all occasions of grudges from the people, which
otherwise might thinke, and would not sticke to saie, that they were
oppressed by the rule of manie kings in stéed of one king. [Sidenote:
The bishop of Durham. The bishop of Winchester.] He did also depriue
Hugh the bishop of Durham of all his honour and dignitie, and put the
bishop of Winchester to great trouble. Moreouer, doubting least the
Nobles of the realme would rise against him, and put him out of his
place; he sought to kéepe them lowe, and spoiled them of their monie and
substance. [Sidenote: The lord chancellors meaning to kéepe earle John
lowe.] Likewise pretending a colour of doubt, least earle John the kings
brother should attempt any thing against his brother the king now in his
absence, he sought also to kéepe him vnder. To be bréefe, he plaied in
all points the right part of a tyrant, and shewed himselfe such a one in
all respects as mainteined his title,
[Sidenote: _Pal. in suo cap._]
Non disceptando aut subtilibus argumentis
Vincere, sed ferro mauult sua iura tueri,
Pontifices nunc bella iuuant, sunt cætera nuga,
Nec præcepta patrum nec Christi dogmata curant,
Iactant se dominos rerum & sibi cuncta licere.