Lincolne and other, touching this matter: but the bishops did neither
any thing in accomplishment of the effect of the popes letters, nor at
his owne supplication. And therefore perceiuing small helpe to come that
waie, he sought to obteine the fauour and fréendship of earle John, and
of his mother quéene Elianor. In the meane time, the lords, barons and
prelates of the realme, after they had depriued him of all authoritie,
and banished him out of the land, ordeined the archbishop of Rouen in
fauour of the kings commission, [Sidenote: The archbishop of Rouen
chéefe gouernour of England.] to haue the chéefe rule and administration
of things touching all the affaires of the common-wealth; but yet so as
earle John had the dooings in manie points, so that he might séeme in
manner an associat with him, whereof sprang much inconuenience. For this
John being a man (as he is noted by some writers) of an ambitious
nature, was suspected to aspire vnto the kingdome: in somuch that he had
ioined with the French king, after the same king was returned foorth of
the holie land, against his brother king Richard, if his mother quéene
Elianor had not persuaded him to the contrarie.
[Sidenote: _R. Houed._ _Wil. Paruus._ Fiftene saith _Functius_, but
others agrée with _Houed._ as _Gerardus Mercator_ citing _Albericus_ a
moonke.] Whilest these things were a dooing, on the twelfth daie of
Julie, the citie of Acres was surrendred into the Christian mens hands,
for the Soldan Saladine (being approched néere to the siege of the
christians with a puissant armie, in hope to haue raised their siege)
when he perceiued it laie not in his power to worke any feat to the
succour of his people within the citie, and that they were so
constreined that they must néeds yéeld, he holpe to make their
composition, and promised to performe certeine couenants on their
behalfe. Herevpon, the Saracens within Acres couenanted not onelie to
deliuer the citie vnto the christians with fiue hundred prisoners of
christians which they had within the same, but also to procure that the
holie crosse should be to them deliuered, with a thousand other
christian prisoners, such as the christian princes should appoint out of
those numbers which Saladine had in his custodie, and further, to giue
them two hundred thousand Besans. And till these couenants were
performed, it was agréed, that the Saracens, which were at that present
left within the citie, should remaine as pledges, vnder condition, that
if the same couenants were not performed within fortie daies, then
should they stand at the mercie of the christian princes as touching
life and lim.
[Sidenote: The citie of Acres.] These things thus concluded, and the
citie yéelded vp into the christian mens hands, the French king vpon
enuie and malice conceiued against king Richard (although he pretended
sicknesse for excuse) departed homewards, [Sidenote: The French K.
returneth home.] setting from Acres the last day of Julie. Now then,
after the departure of king Philip, when the day approched, in the which
the Saracens should performe the couenants; or else stand to the
iudgement of life and death at the pleasure of the christian princes: it
was perceiued that the couenants would not be fulfilled according to the
agréement. For Saladine, as it well appeared, ment not to performe that
which for the safegard of his men he had vndertaken, and did but dallie
with the christians to prolong the time: wherevpon sentence was giuen
foorth, that for default in such behalfe, the Saracens remaining as
pledges should loose their heads.
Saladine hauing knowledge thereof, sent word to king Richard and to the
whole christian armie, that if his people that were in the christian
mens hands lost their heads, he would not faile but cause the heads of
all those christians which he had in captiuitie to be cut off also.
Notwithstanding which answer, on the fourteenth day of August king
Richard issued foorth of the citie, passing the vttermost ditches, and
incamped himselfe neere the armie of Saladine, who the same daie sent
rich presents vnto king Richard, requiring of him a longer day for
performance of the couenants, but that would not be granted. [Sidenote:
Saladine causeth the christian prisoners to be beheaded.] Wherefore vpon
the said deniall, Saladine caused all those christian prisoners which he
had in his hands to be beheaded on the eightéenth day of August, on
which day king Richard aduanced foorth towards the lodgings of the
Saracens, and skirmished with them verie hotlie, so that manie were
wounded and slaine on both parts: and amongst other one of king Richards
companions at all exercises named Peter Mignot lost his life there.
Furthermore, although king Richard knew that Saladine had put the
christian prisoners to death in such wise as you haue heard, yet would
not he preuent his terme appointed for the execution of the Saracens
that were in his custodie, but abiding vnto the twentith day of August,
he then caused those Saracens which fell to his lot, at the time of the
surrender of Acres, being in number about 2600. to be brought foorth of
the citie, and néere to the walles in the sight of Saladine and all his
host they had their heads chopped off. The duke of Burgoigne caused
execution to be doone within the citie vpon those which fell to the
French kings share, the number of the which rose to two thousand and
foure hundred, or thereabouts: for the whole number was reckoned to be
about fiue thousand that thus lost their liues through the inconstancie
of their prince: yet diuerse of the principall had their liues saued.
The Saracens themselues also spake much euill of Saladine for this
matter, [Sidenote: _R. Houed._] bicause that refusing to performe the
articles of couenants, he had occasioned the enimie to slea those that
had so valiantlie serued in defense of the citie, to the vttermost
ieopardie of their liues. And heere is verified that knowne verse,
Quicquid delirant reges plectuntur Achiui.
[Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] But now to leaue forren matters, and to returne
home into England: we find, that on the second of December, the monks of
Canturburie chose to their archbishop Reignold bishop of Bath, who
within fifteene daies after his election, departed this life, and lieth
buried at Bath. [Sidenote: Strife betwixt y^e archbishop of York and the
bishop of Durham.] Also this yeare, or (as Ger. Dor. saith) in the yeare
following, the bishop of Durham sought meanes to withdraw his subiection
from the archbishop of Yorke, for which attempt the archbishop of Yorke,
vpon trust of the popes grant, did not excommunicate the said bishop,
notwithstanding that he appealed to the popes consistorie three seuerall
times, putting his owne matter and his churches to be examined and tried
by the pope, where vpon he obeied not the excommunication: and
signifieng the cause vnto Rome, obteined such fauour, that the pope and
his cardinals reuersed the sentence, and iudged the excommunication to
be of none effect. And further they decreed, that if the archbishop of
Yorke had broken the altars and chalices, as information was giuen, in
which the bishop of Durham had celebrated after his appeale made to the
court of Rome, that then should the said bishop of Durham be acquited
from owing any subiection to the said archbishop for so long as they two
should liue togither.
True it is, that the archbishop had not onelie broken the altars and
chalices which the bishop had vsed in déed for the celebration of masse,
but also held his owne brother John earle of Mortaigne for
excommunicate, bicause he had eat and dronke in companie of the said
bishop, and would not communicate with him, till he came to receiue
absolution, and to make satisfaction for his fault. In the end the
bishops of Lincolne and Rochester, with the abbat of Peterburrow, were
appointed by the pope to haue the hearing of this matter, as iudges
authorised by his buls, who sat therevpon at Northampton, vpon S. Calixt
his day, where after they had heard both parties argue what they could
in either of their cases, they gaue a longer day, to wit, vntill the
feast of the natiuitie of saint John Baptist next after, to see if by
anie good means there might some agréement haue beene had betwixt them,
or (if that could not be) that then the popes leters should stand in
force as before, & the helpes of either part saued, as though no delaie
had béene vsed. And to this, both parties were agreeable, speciallie at
the motion of the bishop of Lincolne.
[Sidenote: Roger Lacie conestable of Chester.] This yeare also, Roger de
Lacie conestable of Chester tooke Alan de Lec and Peter de Bouencort,
and vpon despite hanged them, for that being put in trust amongst other
with the kéeping of the castels of Notingham and Tickhill, which he had
receiued into his custodie of the bishop of Elie quondam lord
chancellour, they had consented to the treason of Robert de Crokeston, &
Eudo de Duuille, which deliuered the same castels vnto John earle of
Mortaigne. The same earle of Mortaigne was highlie offended for the
death of those two persons, and therefore wasted the lands of the said
Roger which lay within the compasse of his iurisdiction.
But now touching the departure of the French king from Acres, diuerse
occasions are remembred by writers of the emulation and secret spite
which he should beare towards king Richard, and beside other alreadie
touched, one was for enterteining and reléeuing the earle of Champaigne
in such bountifull wise in his necessitie, that he was readie to forsake
the French kings seruice, and cleaue to king Richard. But howsoeuer it
came to passe, partlie through enuie (as hath béene thought) conceiued
at the great déeds of king Richard, whose mightie power and valiantnesse
he could not well abide, and partlie for other respects him moouing, he
tooke the sea with thrée gallies of the Geneuois, and returned into
Italie, and so home into France, hauing promised first vnto king Richard
at his departure out of the holie land, and after to pope Celestine at
Rome, that he would not attempt any hurtfull enterprise against the
English dominions, till king Richard should be returned foorth of the
holie land. [Sidenote: The euill dealling & breach of promise of the
French king.] But this promise was not kept, for after that he was
returned into France, he first sought to procure the foresaid erle John,
king Richards brother, to rebell against him, promising him not onelie
aid to reduce all his brothers dominions into his hands, but also to
giue his sister Adela in marriage, whom king Richard vpon suspicion of
vnchast liuing, had forsaken, as before ye haue heard. But when earle
John was dissuaded by his mother, from accepting this offer (which
otherwise as it is said he would willinglie haue receiued) king Philip
still reteined a malicious rancor in his hart, and in reuenge of old
displeasures, would haue attempted the warre against the subiects of
king Richard, if his lords would haue ioined with him: but they
considering what slander would redound hereby both to him and them for
the iniurie doone to the christian common-welth, in making warre against
him that was occupied in defense of the faith against the common enimies
of christendome, would not giue their consent thereto, and so the matter
rested, till king Richard was taken prisoner in Almaigne, and then what
followed, it shall after appeare.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Paruus._ Enuious discord among the christians.] In the
meane while, the christian armie atchiued some worthie enterprises in
the holie land, though not manie, by reason of such enuious discord as
reigned amongst the chéefe gouernours. It chanced yet on the éeue of the
Natiuitie of our ladie next after the departure of king Philip, as king
Richard marched foorth towards Japh ancientlie called Joppa, that the
Soldan Saladine taking aduantage of the place, did set vpon the rereward
of the christians: [Sidenote: K. Richard discomfiteth the Saracens néere
to Port Japh.] but his Saracens (after they had fought right fiercelie
from noone till sunne setting) were so beaten backe at length, and
repelled with such losse and disaduantage, that in 40. yeares before
they had not susteined at one time greater damage. Amongst other of the
christians slaine at that encounter, was one James Dauenes, a man of
high prowesse and valiancie.
[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._] Moreouer, king Richard wan diuerse townes and
castels out of the enimies hands, as Ascalon, Darus, and diuerse other,
and some he fortified, as Ascalon aforesaid, and Port Japh, otherwise
called Joppa. There were sundrie encounters also betwixt the Saracens
and christians, wherein king Richard and his people bare themselues so
manfullie, that the victorie for the most part continuallie rested on
their side. [Sidenote: 1192.] At one time also, hearing of a great
conueie of vittels, munitions, and other things which came from Babylon
towards Jerusalem to furnish Saladine and his armie (which conueies they
call carauannes) king Richard with a competent power of men met them on
the waie, and distressed those that were attendant vpon the safegard of
that carriage, being in number about two thousand horssemen, besides a
great multitude of footmen, and therewith tooke the carriages with foure
thousand and six hundred camels and dromedaries, besides an innumerable
sort of mules, asses, and other beasts of burthen.
¶ But to speake of all the worthie exploits atchiued by king Richard and
his valiant capteins there in the holie land against the infidels, it
would require a long treatise, and therefore here we passe them ouer.
This is to be noted, that amongst other of whom we find honorable
mention made by writers for their high valiancie shewed in those
exploits, these are named as cheefe, [Sidenote: The names of such noble
men as were famous for their valiant dooings in this voiage.] Robert
earle of Leicester, Hubert bishop of Salisburie, with the earles of S.
Paule and Dreux, beside diuerse other, as Hugh de Gourney, William de
Borrez, Walcline de Ferrers, Roger de Toonie, James de Auenes, the
bishop of Beauuois, William de Barres, William de Tarland, Drogo de
Merlo, Robert de Nealle, Henrie Fitz Nicholas, Robert de Newburg, Rafe
de S. Marie, Arnold de Bois, Henrie de Mailoc, William & Saule de Bruil,
Andrew de Chauignie, Henrie de Graie, Peter de Pratellis, Stephan de
Turneham, Baldwin Carron, Clarenbald de Mount Chablon, Manser de Lisle,
Richard de Orques and Theodorike Philip, Ferrike de Vienne, Gilbert
Malemaine, Alexander d'Arsie, Stephan de Longchamp, Seguin de Barret,
Roger de Glanuille, Raimond Fitz Prince, Bartholomew de Mortimer, Gerard
Furniuall, Rafe de Malleon, Roger de Sacie, [Sidenote: De Poole aliàs de
Stagno.] William de Poole, Hugh de Neuill, Henrie Teutch or (if ye will)
Teutonicus the kings standardbearer, with diuerse others, as well
Englishmen, Frenchmen, Normans, Poictouins, Aniouines, Britans,
Gascoignes, as other nations, of whome partlie mention is alreadie made
before in this booke, and partlie for breefenesse diuerse are omitted.
But now to returne, sure it is, that king Richard meant to haue
recouered the citie of Jerusalem, and all the holie land out of the
Saracens hands, by the assistance of almightie God: if the doubt which
he had of his brother the earle of Mortaigns practises, & the French
kings doings, which were brought to him with a greeuous report, had not
reuoked him home. [Sidenote: _Galf. Vinsaf._] For diuerse messengers
were sent dailie into the holie land, to aduertise him of such dangers
as were like to insue, if by his speedie returne the same were not
preuented. And first after Easter, there came to him the prior of
Hereford with letters from the bishop of Elie, conteining a sore
information against his brother earle John, for hauing expelled those
whom he had appointed rulers ouer the realme of England, and altered the
state of things there contrarie to the ordinances by him deuised afore
his setting forward vpon his iournie (as before ye haue partlie heard.)
Vpon receipt of which letters, he meant immediatlie at the first to haue
returned, and to haue left behind him a conuenient power of men, to wit,
thrée hundred knights or men of armes, and two thousand chosen footmen,
to abide vpon the defense of the holie land, with other christians at
his costs and charges. But yet at length he was persuaded to tarrie,
speciallie till things were set in some better staie, which were out of
order by the death of the marques of Montferrato, lord of Tire,
[Sidenote: The marques of Montferrato murthered by the Assassini.] whom
two traitorous Saracens of the kind which they name Assassini had
murthered. After whose death Henrie earle of Champaigne nephue to king
Richard married his wife, and was made king of Jerusalem, Guido
resigning to him his title, vnto whome as it were in recompense king
Richard gaue the Ile of Cypres: although some write, that the knights
Templers had bought it of him before. Thus king Richard remaining still
in the holie land, shortlie after Whitsuntide, there came an other
messenger to him, one John de Alanzon a clearke, bringing worsse newes
out of England than the prior of Hereford had brought before, which in
effect conteined, [Sidenote: Earle John purposed to seize vpon the
kingdom in his brothers absence.] that his brother earle John was alied
as a confederat with the French king, and meant through his setting on,
to seize into his possession the whole realme of England,
notwithstanding the persuasion of his mother quéene Elianor and other
his fréends to the contrarie.
Herevpon king Richard was fullie persuaded to returne home, but yet
through the admonition of certeine persons, [Sidenote: William de
Poicters K. Richards chapleine.] and namelie of one William de Poicters,
a chapleine of his, he eftsoones altered his purpose, and so remained
there, till at length through enuie and malice still increasing amongst
the Christians, he perceiued how no good purpose go forward, since that
which séemed good to some, was misliked of other; and speciallie our
writers put great blame in the French men, who either vpon disdaine or
other displeasure would not be persuaded to follow their aduise, which
were knowne best to vnderstand the state of things in those parties. And
herevpon, when the armie was aduanced to Betenoble, a place not past
foure leagues distant from Jerusalem, bicause their mind might not be
fulfilled for the besieging of Jerusalem, which they had intended to
take in hand (whereas the residue would rather that they shuld haue gone
to besiege Babylon in Aegypt, and that vpon sundrie great respects) the
Frenchmen raised their field, and returned againe to Acres in great
despite, putting the rest of the armie also (so much as in them laie) in
danger of vtter ruine and distresse.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 4.] Then king Richard and the other Christian
capteins perceiuing how the matter inclined, and giuing ouer all hope of
any more good successe, followed them. So that after they were thus
returned to Acres, king Richard still doubting least his long absence
from home might put him in danger of more losse here, than he saw hope
of present gaine to be had there, in such diuersitie of humours and
priuie malice which reigned among them, he determined fullie to depart
homewards, with no lesse purpose to returne thither againe after he had
setled things at home in such sure stay as was expedient for the suertie
of his owne estate and quietnesse of his people. [Sidenote: _Wil.
Paruus._] Herevpon being readie to enter into his ships at Acres [or as
some haue, being on his iournie homewards in Cypres] he was aduertised
that the Souldane Saladine had taken the town of Japh, slaine a great
number of the christians within it, and besieged the residue within the
castell, the which (constreined through feare) had compounded to yéeld,
if within thrée daies there came no succour.
King Richard being hereof aduertised, and turning gréef into valiancie,
with all spéed sailed backe vnto Japh, and landing there with his
people, caused his enimies to forsake the towne: but anon assembling
themselues againe togither, they turned once more to besiege it,
wherevpon he issued foorth into the fields, [Sidenote: K. Richard
rescueth Port Japh.] and fought with them sundrie daies togither, till
finallie they were content to forsake their enterprise, and to depart
thence for altogither. In these conflicts the valiant courage of King
Richard, and the worthie manhood of his souldiers right well appeared:
[Sidenote: _Rad. Niger._ _Matth. Paris._] for he brought not with him at
that time vnto Japh aboue 80 men of armes, and foure hundred other
souldiers with crossebowes, and yet with that small handfull of men, and
some aid of them that he found there in the castell, he did not onelie
bid battell to the enimies, which were numbered to 62 thousand, but also
put them to the woorsse, and caused them to flee backe, to their great
shame and confusion.
[Sidenote: Cephas. K. Richard fell sicke.] Thus Japh being deliuered out
of the enimies hands, king Richard fell sicke at a castell called
Cephas, and so remained there certeine daies, till he had recouered his
health. In which meane time the Soldane Saladine seeming to lament his
case, sent vnto him certeine of his councellors to common with him of
peace, declaring that although he well vnderstood that king Richard ment
shortlie to returne into his countrie, and that after his departure out
of the east parts, he could with small adoo recouer all that the
christians yet held within the holie land, he would neuerthelesse in
respect of king Richards high prowes, and noble valliancie, grant a
peace for a certeine time, so that not onelie Ascalon, but also all
other such townes and places as the christians had fortified or woone
since the conquest of Acres should be raced, as touching their walles,
bulworks, gates, and other fortifications.
King Richard (though he perceiued that this offer of peace tended vnto
this point cheefelie, that Saladine would thereby adnihilate whatsoeuer
the christian armie had doone in the holie land since his & the French
kings arriuall, so that by the said peace he should gaine more than by
the edge of his sword) did somewhat staie at this offer and demand, as a
thing greatlie dishonourable to the christians, to lose by treatie of
peace so much or rather more than they got by force of warres (a meere
token of faint and féeble courage) yet considering that in such
necessitie both of his departure from thence, and also of lacke of other
succors to resist the puissance of the enimies, after his comming awaie,
he iudged it best to take the offer at the enimies hands in auoiding of
some greater euill. [Sidenote: A peace concluded betwixt the Christians
& Saracens.] Herevpon therefore was a peace concluded to endure for
thrée yeares, thrée moneths, thrée wéeks, thrée daies, and three houres,
to begin at Easter next insuing. And among other articles, it was
couenanted, that the christians should haue frée passage to come and go
vnto the citie of Jerusalem, to visit the holie sepulchre there, which
was granted; so that amongst a great number of christians that
presentlie vpon this conclusion went thither, [Sidenote: Hubert bishop
of Salisburie.] Hubert bishop of Salisburie was one, who had continued
about the king during the time of all his iournie till this time.