comming againe into Cypres, sent his wife queene Berengaria with his
sister Joane (late quéene of Sicile) into England by the long seas, but
he himselfe not minding to lie long on the seas, [Sidenote: K. Richard
taketh his iornie homewards.] determined to take his course into Grecia,
and so by land to passe homewards with all speed possible. Howbeit yer
he could atteine his purpose, his chance was to be driuen by tempest
into the coast of Istria, not farre from Aquilia, where he stood in some
doubt of his life. For if he had beene knowne and taken, they would
surelie haue killed him, [Sidenote: K. Richard slandered for the death
of y^e marques of Montferrato.] bicause of the slander that went of
him, as guiltie of the death of Conrade the marquesse of Montferrato,
who indéed was slaine by two of the Assassini in the citie of Tyrus,
whilest king Richard was in the holie land (as before yée haue heard.)
He therefore hauing here made shipwracke, and doubting to fall into the
hands of any person in those parts that bare good will vnto the
marquesse (against whome he had indéed shewed himselfe not freendlie in
a quarrell betwixt the said marquesse and Guido king of Jerusalem) made
the best shift he could to get away, yet knowledge being had of him,
[Sidenote: _W. Paruus._ Erle of Gorze Saltzburge.] and serch made after
him by one Meinard of Gorezein, he lost eight of his seruants, and so
came to a towne within the bishoprike of Saltzburge called Frisake,
where he was eftsoones in danger to haue beene taken againe by one
Frederike de saint Soome, who notwithstanding tooke six of his men, but
yet he himselfe with three other of his companie made shift to get away.
[Sidenote: K. Richard commeth to Vienna.] Finallie comming to Vienna in
Austrich, and there causing his seruants to prouide meat for him, more
sumptuous and fine than was thought requisit for so meane a person as he
counterfeited then to beare out in countenance, it was streightwaies
suspected that he was some other maner of man than he pretended,
[Sidenote: _Polydor._] and in fine, those that marked more diligentlie
the maner of him, perceiued what he was, and gaue knowledge to the duke
of Austrich named Leopold, being then in the citie of Vienna, what they
had seene. His page that had the Dutch toong, going about the towne to
change gold, and buy vittels, bewraied him, hauing by chance the kings
gloues vnder his girdle: wherevpon comming to be examined for feare of
tortures confessed the truth.
[Sidenote: _Ra. Niger._] The duke streightwaies caused the house where
he was lodged, to be set about with armed men, and sent other into the
house to apprehend him. He being warie that he was descried, got him to
his weapon: but they aduising him to be contented, and alledging the
dukes commandement, he boldlie answered, "that sith he must be taken, he
being a king, would yéeld himselfe to none of the companie but to the
duke alone, and therefore if it would please him to come, he would yéeld
himselfe into his hands." [Sidenote: K. Richard submitteth himselfe to
the duke of Austrich.] The duke hearing of this, spéedilie came vnto
him, whom he meeting, deliuered vp his sword, and committed him vnto his
custodie. The duke reioising of such a preie, brought him vnto his
palace, and with gentle words enterteined him, though he meant no great
good towards him, as well inough appeared in that he committed him to
the keeping of certeine gentlemen, which without much courtesie looked
streightlie inough to him for starting awaie, in somuch that they kept
him in cold irons (as some authours doo write.) [Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
He was taken after the maner aforesaid in December vpon S. Thomas éeue,
in the yéere of our Lord 1192. and in the fourth yeare of his reigne.
[Sidenote: _Polychron._] The duke of Austrich owght the king no good
will, bicause he had cast downe his ensignes pitcht vp in a turret at
Acres, which he had woone at the verie time when that citie was
deliuered by the Saracens: [Sidenote: The cause of the displeasure
betwixt the duke of Austrich & king Richard.] for while they were in
tretie on the one side, the duke on the other, not knowing anie thing
thereof, gaue the assault vnto that part of the towne which was
appointed vnto him to besiege. And so being entred the towne, and
perceiuing that by treatie it was to be deliuered, he retired into the
turret which he had first woone and entred, and there set vp his
standard and ensignes, which king Richard (as the Dutch writers affirme)
comming thither, threw downe and trode vnder his féet.
[Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] But Geruasius Dorobornensis declareth this
matter somewhat otherwise, as thus. After that the said citie of Acres
was rendred into the christian mens hands (saith he) diuerse lords tooke
their lodgings as they thought good, and hanged foorth their ensignes.
And as it chanced, the duke of Austrich placing himselfe in one of the
fairest palaces of all the citie, put foorth his ensigne, whereof king
Richard being warie, came thither with a companie of hardie souldiers
about him, and threw downe the dukes ensigne, so displacing him out of
that so pleasant and beautifull a lodging. [Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._] For
this cause, and also surmizing that king Richard should be guiltie of
the death of the marques Conrade, the duke of Austrich shewed such
discourtesie towards him. But concerning the murther of the marques, the
chéefe gouernour of those Saracens called Assassini cleared king Richard
by a letter written and directed vnto the duke of Austrich in manner as
followeth.
A letter directed to the duke of Austrich, wherein king Richard is
cleared of the death of the marquesse of Mountferrat, whereof he
was vehementlie suspected.
Lvpoldo duci Austriæ, Vetus de Monte salutem. Cùm plurimi reges &
principes vltra mare Richardum regem Angliæ & dominum de morte
marchisi inculpent, iuro per dominum qui regnat in æternum, &
per legem quam tenemus, quòd in eius mortem nullam culpam habuit.
Est siquidem causa mortis ipsius marchisi talis. Vnus ex
fratribus nostris in vnam nauem de Satalei, ad partes nostras
veniebat, & tempestas illum fortè ad Tyrum appulit, & marchisus
fecit illum capere & occidere, & magnam pecuniam eius rapuit. Nos
verò marchiso nuncios nostros misimus, mandantes vt pecuniam
fratris nostri nobis redderet, & de morte fratris nostri nobiscum
se concordaret, & noluit.
Nec non & nuncios nostros spreuit, & mortem fratris nostri super
Reginaldum dominum de Sidonis posuit, & nos tantùm fecimus per
amicos nostros, quod in veritate scimus, quòd ille fecit illum
occidere & pecuniam rapere. Et iterum alium nuncium nostrum
nomine Edrisum misimus ad eum, quem in mare mergere voluit, sed
amici nostri illum à Tyro festinanter fecerunt recedere, qui ad
nos peruenit, & ista nobis nunciauit. Nos quoque ex illa hora
marchisum desiderauimus occidere. Túncque duos fratres misimus ad
Tyrum, qui eum apertè & ferè coram omni populo Tyri occiderunt.
Hæc ergò fuit causa mortis marchisi, & benè dicimus vobis in
veritate, quòd dominus Richardus rex Angliæ in hac marchisi morte
nullam culpam habuit. Et qui propter hoc domino regi Angliæ malum
fecerunt, iniustè fecerunt, & sine causa. Sciatis pro certo, quòd
nullum hominem huius mundi pro mercede aliqua vel pecunia
occidimus, nisi priùs nobis malum fecerit. Et sciatis quòd has
literas fecimus in domo nostra ad castellum nostrum Messiat in
dimidio Septembri, anno ab Alexandro 1505.
* * * * *
The same in English.
Vetus de Monte to Lupold duke of Austrich sendeth greeting. Where
manie kings and princes beyond the seas blame Richard king of
England of the marques his death, I sweare by the lord that
reigneth euerlastinglie, and by the law which we hold, that he
was not in fault for his death. For the verie cause of the
marques his death was such as followeth. One of our brethren in a
ship of Satalie came towards our parties, and chanced by tempest
to be driuen vnto Tyre, and the marques caused him to be taken
and slaine and tooke a great portion of monie that he had in the
ship with him. Whervpon we sent our messengers to the marques,
commanding him to restore vnto vs the monie of our brother, and
to compound with vs for our said brothers death, and he would
not.
Moreouer, he also contemned our messengers, & laid the fault of
our brothers death vpon Reginald lord of Sidon, and we did so
much through our freends, that we got full vnderstanding that the
marques himselfe caused him to be slaine, and tooke his monie.
And therefore we sent vnto him againe an other messenger named
Edrisus, whome he would haue drowned in the sea, but our freends
made such shift, that they procured him to depart with speed from
Tyre, who returned to vs, and signified these things to vs for
certeine. And from that houre euer after we had a desire to slea
the marques: and so then we sent two of our brethren vnto Tyre,
who openlie, & in a manner in presence of all the people of Tyre
slue him.
This therefore was the verie cause of the death of the marques: &
we say to you in good sooth, that the lord Richard king of
England, in this death of the marques was nothing culpable: and
they that haue doone anie displeasure vnto the king of England
for this cause, they haue doone it wrongfullie, and without anie
iust occasion. Know ye for certeine, that we do not vse to kill
anie man of this world for anie bribe, or for monie, except he
haue doone to vs some harme afore time. And know ye that we haue
made these letters in our house at our castell of Messuat, in the
midst of September, in the yeare from Alexander the great, 1505.
¶ Thus we see how king Richard was cleared of that crime concerning the
marques his death by the tenour of this letter. And verelie it is most
like that king Richard would haue béene loth to haue communicated his
purpose vnto such a wicked kind of pagans as the Assassini were, if he
had pretended any such matter, but rather would haue sought his reuenge
by some other meanes. Now therefore to our purpose.
The newes of the taking of king Richard was anon bruted and blowne ouer
all Germanie, wherevpon the emperour Henrie the sixt, the sonne of
Frederike the first, [Sidenote: 1193.] sent in all hast vnto the duke,
persuading him to deliuer the king into his hands, being able to
susteine and abide the malice of all them that would be offended with
the taking and deteining of him prisoner, as the pope and others. The
emperour well vnderstood the wealth and riches of England, and therefore
hoped to make some good purchase by ransoming the king, if he might get
him out of the dukes hands. The duke perceiuing also the emperours
meaning, durst not well denie his request, [Sidenote: The king is
deliuered to the emperor. _Matth. Paris._] and therefore he deliuered
the king vnto them that were sent from the emperour, who couenanted to
giue vnto the said duke the summe of 6000. pounds of Cullen weight for
the hauing of the said king. The emperour thus receiuing the king at the
hands of the duke of Austrich, commanded that he should be committed to
close prison, and would not doo so much as once speake with him. This he
did, to cause the king vpon an indignation and wearinesse of that maner
of life, to make speed in offering some large masse of monie for his
libertie & deliuerance. ¶ Thus we sée how couetousnesse infected the
hearts of the mightie, and what occasion the emperour and duke did take,
to inrich themselues by the meanes of the king, whome they forced not to
impouerish, so their owne greedie worme were serued. But this hath béene
a disease not so generall as ancient, according to his words that said,
[Sidenote: _Ouid. lib. Fast. 1._]
Vix ego Saturno quenquam regnante videbam,
Cuius non animo dulcia lucra forent.
[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._] Here is to be remembred by the waie, that
about the same time, or somewhat before, [Sidenote: Two legats from y^e
pope.] in the yeare of our Lord 1192. the pope sent two legats (namelie,
Octauian bishop of Hostia, and Jordane de Fossa noua) into Normandie, to
reconcile the bishop of Elie and the archbishop of Rouen: but comming
vnto Gisors, they were staied from entring any further into the
countrie, [Sidenote: Normandie interdicted.] wherevpon they did
interdict the whole duchie of Normandie, togither with William Fitz
Radulfe lord steward of that countrie, bicause he was the man that had
so staied them. Immediatlie herevpon, queene Elianor, and the archbishop
of Rouen sent vnto those legats Hugh bishop of Durham, requiring them to
release that sentence of interdiction so pronounced against the steward
and countrie of Normandie in the kings absence, but they would not,
except they might be receiued into Normandie: howbeit, the pope being
sent vnto, released it, and caused the legats to release it also, and
yet they entred not into Normandie at all.
[Sidenote: The earle of Pieregort & others wast the K. of Englands
lands.] This yeare, whilest the seneschall of Gascoigne laie sicke, the
earle of Pieregort, and the vicount of March, and almost all the lords
and barons of Gascoigne, began to waste and destroie the lands of king
Richard. And though the seneschall manie times by messengers required a
peace, or at the least some truce, yet could he not haue any grant
thereof: [Sidenote: The seneschal of Gascoigne reuengeth iniurie.]
wherfore vpon his recouerie of health he inuaded the lands of the said
earle, tooke the castels and fortresses and some of them he fortified,
and kept to the kings vse, and some of them he raced downe to the
ground. He also inuaded the vicounts countrie, and subdued it to the
kings gouernement. [Sidenote: The king of Nauarres brother.] Shortlie
after came the brother of the king of Nauarre, with eight hundred
knights or men of armes to the seneschals aid, and so they two togither
entring into the lands of the earle of Tholouse, tooke diuerse castels
and fortresses within the same, of the which some they fortified, and
some they raced, and rode euen to the gates of Tholouse, and lodged in
maner vnder the walles of the citie.
A little before Christmas also, diuerse of those that had béene in the
holie land with king Richard, came home into England, not knowing but
that king Richard had beene at home before them, and being asked where
they thought he was become, they could say no more but that they had
seene the ship wherein he first went aboord, arriuing at Brendize in
Puglia. At length, when newes came that he was taken and staied as
prisoner, the archbishop of Rouen and other the rulers of the realme of
England, [Sidenote: The abbats of Boxley and Roberts-bridge.] sent the
abbat of Boxeley and the abbat of Roberts-bridge with all spéed into
Almaine to speake with him, and to vnderstand his state, and what his
pleasure was in all things. Who comming to Germanie, passed through the
countrie into Baierland, where at a place called Oxefer they found the
king as then on his iournie towards the emperour, to whom (as yée haue
heard) the duke of Austrich did send him. The said abbats attended him
to the emperours court, and remained there with him till the emperour
and he were accorded, in manner as after shall be shewed: and then after
Easter they returned with the newes into England.
[Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] Vpon report hereof order was taken for manie
things, but cheefelie for the state: in which dealings, forsomuch as
those which had the rule of the land stood in great doubt of things (for
the inconstant nature of earle John was of them much suspected) first
they caused a new oth of allegiance to be made to king Richard, and
receiued of the people. They fortified also such townes and castels as
were of importance, both with repairing the walles and other defenses
about the same, and furnishing them with men, munition and vittels. Thus
was the land brought into some order.
[Sidenote: The French king counselleth K. John to vsurpe against his
brother.] In the meane while, the French king being aduertised that king
Richard was deteined as prisoner reioised not a little thereat, and with
all speed by secret messages did send for his brother earle John, who
was readie to come at his call. And being come, he exhorted him not to
suffer so conuenient an occasion to passe, but to take the gouernement
of the realme of England now into his hands, promising him all such aid
as he could of him reasonablie require: with other like talke still
tending to the prouocation of the earle to forsake his allegiance vnto
his brother. And to say the truth, earle John was easilie persuaded so
to doo, and therefore vpon his immediat returne into England, assembled
an armie, and with the same (and such strangers as he brought with him)
began to prooue maisteries, first winning the castels of Windsore,
Wallingford, Notingham, and diuerse other, and fortifieng the same to
his owne vse and defense.
The barons of the land, iudging such vnlawfull doings not to be anie
longer suffered, first besieged the castell of Windsore, and after
preparing to leuie a greater force, did put them within in such feare,
that they yéelded vp the same, séeking to escape by flight, some into
one place, and some into an other, the which yet being apprehended were
put to worthie execution. [Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] But this was not doone
without continuance of time, & without great trouble & charges to the
realme: for whereas there was a practise betwixt the French king and
earle John, that a great power of strangers, & namelie Flemings should
haue come into the realme (for whose transporting a great number of
ships were brought togither at Witsand) yet the high prouidence and
goodnesse of God disappointed their purpose. For their messengers being
taken which were sent hither into England, the treason was reuealed, and
by the queene mothers appointment (who cheefelie then ruled the land) a
great companie of knights, men of armes, and commons of the countrie,
watched the sea coasts ouer against Flanders, to keepe the enimies from
landing. They began thus to watch in the passion wéeke, and so continued
till a certeine time after Easter. Howbeit earle John came secréetlie
ouer, in hope to haue not onelie the assistance of the Welshmen and of
manie other his freends in England, but also of the Scots, howbeit, the
king of Scots would not meddle. He therefore with such Welshmen and
other as he had brought ouer, and such Englishmen as he could get to
take his part, began such attempts (as before ye haue heard) to the
disquieting of the whole realme, and great displeasure of the king.
Moreouer, beside that power of the barons which laid siege to Windsor
castell, there were Noble men also in other parts of the realme that
were readie to resist him. [Sidenote: The archbishop of Yorke. Hugh
Bardolfe. William de Stuteuille.] And amongst other, Geffrey the
archbishop of Yorke, with Hugh Bardolfe one of the kings iustices, and
William de Stuteuille, assembled an armie, and comming to Doncaster,
fortified[9] the towne: but when the archbishop would haue gone forward
to besiege the castell of Tickhill, which earle John had in possession,
the other two his associats would not consent to go with him, bicause
they were seruants, and reteined with earle John. Herewith the
archbishop being sore offended, departed from them, calling them
traitors to their king, and enimies to the realme.
About the same time did the French king enter into Normandie with an
armie, & comming to the towne of Gisors, besieged it, the which one
Gilbert de Vascoll or Guascoill capteine thereof (to his high reproch)
yéelded vp vnto him, with an other castell also called Nefle, which he
had likewise in kéeping. [Sidenote: _Wil. Paruus._] After this, the
French king entring into the countrie of Veuxine or Veulquessine, wan
diuers towns and fortresses in the same, and passing forward, tooke Val
de Rueil, and Neusburge, [Sidenote: Rouen besieged.] and finallie
comming before the citie of Rouen he laid siege thereto: [Sidenote: The
earle of Leicester.] but the earle of Leicester being gotten into the
citie before the French kings comming thither, so incouraged the
citizens, that they stoutlie standing to their defense, caused the
French king to his great dishonour to raise his field, hauing lost there
more than he wan. [Sidenote: _Polydor._] Yet to saue other townes and
castels from taking, and the countrie from destruction, the rulers of
the same procured a truce for a great summe of monie, which they
couenanted to giue, deliuering vp foure notable castels by waie of
engagement, till the summe agreed vpon should be to him contented and
dulie paid.
In the meane time, earle John as head of all the conspiratours,
perceiuing himselfe not able to atchieue his purpose as then, nor to
resist the lords and barons of the realme, being vp in armour against
him, and now growen to greater stomach, bicause they vnderstood by the
bishop of Salisburie latelie arriued, of the kings welfare, and hope of
deliuerance; and furthermore, considering that he was disappointed both
of Scots and Flemings as he had well hoped should haue come to his aid:
he tooke a truce with the lords of the kings side, by the earnest
trauell of the bishop of Salisburie, [Sidenote: Michaelmas, saith _Ger.
Dorob._] till the feast of All saincts, so as the castels of Windsore,
Wallingford, and the Peake, should remaine in the hands of his mother
queene Elianor; but the castels of Notingham and Tickhill remained still
in his owne possession, the which with such other castels as he held
within the land, he furnished with garrisons of his owne men and
freends, and then went againe ouer into France to the French king, to
purchase some new aid at his hands according to his promise.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Paruus._] Here will we leaue earle John conferring with
the French king, and returne to the king of England. Vpon Palmesundaie
after that he was deliuered (or rather betraied) into the emperours
hands, he was brought before the princes and lords of the empire,
[Sidenote: The emperour chargeth king Richard with iniuries doone to the
Sicilians.] in whose presence the emperour charged him with diuerse
vnlawfull dooings: and namelie picked a quarell at him for the wrongs
and hurts doone to the Sicilians in time of his soiourning in their Ile,
as he went towards the holie land. For albeit the said emperour had
nothing as then to doo in the countrie, yet for somuch as he had latelie
recouered the Ile of Sicile out of king Tancreds hands, and was now
intituled king thereof by the pope, in right of his wife Constance, the
daughter of Roger king of Sicile, and so by reason therof seemed to be
gréeuouslie offended with him for his dooings about the recouering of
the monie from Tancred, which neuerthelesse was iustlie due vnto his
sister for her dowrie, as in the processe afore I haue alreadie
declared. [Sidenote: _W. Paruus._ _Matth. West._ The kings wisdome in
making his answere.] King Richard notwithstanding these vaine and other
friuolous obiections laid to his charge, made his answears alwaies so
pithilie and directlie to all that could be laid against him, and
excused himselfe in euerie point so not onelie greatlie commended him
for the same, but from thencefoorth vsed him more courteouslie, and
suffered that his fréends might haue accesse to him more fréelie than
before they could be permitted.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._] The pope also being aduertised of the taking of
king Richard, was much offended, that anie Christian prince, hauing
taken vpon him the defense of the Christian faith against the infidels,
should be so vsed in his returne from so godlie an enterprise: and
therefore sent both to the duke of Austrich, and to the emperour,
requiring them to set him at libertie. But the emperour declared
plainlie that he would be answered for such summes of monie as king
Richard had taken out of Sicile before he would release him or set him
at libertie.