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in the desert before his disciples, bless this table, and what is set upon it, or shall be set upon it: In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen." And likewise again, when they rise from meat, the senior gives thanks, saying the words of the Apocalypse, Blessing, and worship, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, honour, virtue, and strength to God alone for ever and ever, Amen." And adds, moreover, "God reward them in their bosoms, and be beneficial to all them that be beneficial to us, and bless us. And may the God who has given us bodily food grant us his spiritual life; and may God be with us, and we always with him." To which they answer again, "Amen." And thus saying grace, they hold their hands upward, looking up to heaven. After their meat and grace said, they teach and exhort amongst themselves, conferring together upon their doctrine," &c.

In their doctrine and teaching they were so diligent and painful, that Reinerius, a writer about their time, and a violent enemy against them, in a long process, wherein he describes their doctrine and teaching, testifies that he heard of one who knew the party, that a certain heretic, as he calls him, merely to turn a person away from our (Roman) faith, and to bring him to that of the Waldenses, swam in the night, and in the winter time, over the river Ibis, to come to him, and to teach him. So perfect were they in the scriptures, that Reinerius says, he heard and saw an unlettered countryman who could recite the whole book of Job word by word, without book, and others who had the whole New Testament perfectly by heart.

And although some of them rather strangely than unskilfully expounded the words, "Sui non receperunt eum," John i. 11.; "swine received him not ;" yet they were not so ignorant and devoid of learning, nor yet so few in number, but that they greatly spread; so that Reinerius has these words: There was none durst stop them for the power and multitude of their favourers. I have often been at their inquisition and examination, and there were numbered forty churches infected with their heresy, insomuch that in one parish of Cammach, were ten open schools of them," &c.

And Reinerius, when he had said all he could in slandering and impugning them, yet is driven to confess this, where he distinguishes their sect from every other sect.

"This sect of the Lyonists has a great shew of holiness, they live justly before men, and believe all things well of God, and hold all the articles contained in the creed; only they blaspheme the Romish church, and hate it," &c.

Now to say a little about their persecutions: After they were driven out of Lyons, they were scattered into various places (the Providence of God so permitting it,) that the sound of their doctrine might be heard abroad in the world. Some went to Bohemia, many fled into the provinces of France, some into Lombardy, others into other places, &c. But as the cross commonly follows the true and sincere preaching of God's word, so neither could these be suffered to live or remain at rest. There are yet to be seen the consultations of lawyers, archbishops, and bishops of France, which yet remain in writing, for the extirpation of these Waldenses, written above three hundred years ago; by which it appears that there was a great number of them in France.

Besides, there was a council held in Toulouse about three hundred and fifty-five years ago, (A. D. 1229,) against these Waldenses, who were condemed in another council at Rome before that.

What great persecutions were raised up against them in France by the pope's commissioners before alluded to, appears by their writings; I will recite some of their words, which towards the end are these:-"Who is such a stranger that he knows not the condemnation of the heretical Waldenses decreed, so many years ago, so famous, so public, followed up with so great labours, expenses, and travel of the faithful, and sealed with so many deaths of these infidels, so solemnly condemned and openly punished?" By this we may see persecution to be no new thing in the church of Christ, when antichrist so long before (even three hundred years ago)

began to rage against these Waldenses. In Bohemia likewise afterwards, under the name of Taborites (as Sylvius records) they suffered no little trouble. But never was persecution stirred up against them, or against any other people more terrible than in these later years in France by the French king (A. D. 1545), the lamentable story is described in Sleidan, and here. after in the course of this book, when we come to the proper period it shall be narrated (by the grace of Christ) more at large. In this persecution it is stated that in one town, Cabriera, there were slain eight hundred persons at once, without respect of women or children of any age; of whom forty women, and most of them great with child, thrust into a barn, and the windows be ing kept with pikes, and fire being applied to them, were all consumed. Besides, in a cave not far from the town Mussium, five-and-twenty persons, were at the same time destroyed with smoke and fire. At Merindolum (when all the rest had fled away) one young man, being found, was tied to an olive-tree, and most cruelly destroyed with torments. There was much more persecution, as shall appear hereafter in the history translated out of Sleidan.

There is also an old document of process, wherein it appears that four hundred and forty-three were brought to examination in Pomerania, Marchia, and places thereabouts, (about A. D. 1391).

And thus much touching the origin, doctrine, and the lamentable persecutions of the Waldenses, who, as is declared, first began about the time of this King Henry II.

It now remains in the order of time to narrate, such other incidents as occurred under the reign of this king, not unworthy to be observed.

There was a great war in Palestine, when the city of Jerusalem, with the cross and king of the city, and others of the temple, were taken by the Saracens, and most part of the christians there were either slain or taken. There was cruel murder and slaughter by the Turk, who caused all the chief of the christians to be brought forth and beheaded before his face, so that Pope Urban III. died for sorrow, and Gregory VIII., next pope after him, lived not two months. Then, in the days of Pope Clement III., sorrow was growing daily for the loss of Palestine, and destruction of the christians. King Henry of England, and Philip the French king, the duke of Burgundy, the earl of Flanders, the earl of Campania, with other christian princes with a general consent upon St. George's day, took the mark of the cross upon them, promising together to take their voyage into the Holy Land. At which time the histories say, the king of England received first the red cross, the French king took the white cross, the earl of Flanders took the green cross; and so likewise other princes took various colours, so as to be known every one by his proper cross. But King Henry (after the three years were expired, in which he promised to perform his voyage) sent to the pope for further delay of his promise, offering to erect three monasteries instead.

Almaric, king of Jerusalem, destroyed Babylon (A.D. 1170), so that it was never after to this day restored, but lies waste and desolate; wherein was fulfilled that which in the prophets was threatened against Babylon. This Almaric had a son named Baldwin, and a daughter called Sibylla.

Sibylla was first married to one Willerm, marquis of Mount Ferrat, by whom she had a son called also Baldwin. After him she was married to another husband named Guido de Liziniaco, earl of Joppa and of Ascalon. After the death of Baldwin, and the next heir, his crown by descent fell to Sibylla the wife of Guido. The peers and nobles, joining together in council, offered Sibylla as the lawful heir to the crown, that she should be their queen, with this condition, that she should separate, by solemn divorce, from her husband Guido ; but she refused the kingdom offered to her on that condition, till at last the magistrates, with the nobles in general, granted to her, and by their oaths confirmed it, that whoever she would choose as her husband, they would all obcy as their king. Guido her husband, among

the rest, humbly requested her that the kingdom might not, for his account, or for his private loss, be destitute of government. At length, with tears consenting to their entreaty, she was solemnly crowned their queen, and received their allegiance by their oath. Upon this, Guido, without any hope of wife and kingdom, departed home quietly to his own place. Then the queen, assembling her states and prelates together, conferred with them about choosing a king, according to what they had promised, and sworn to her, that they would obey him as their king whom she would name to be her husband. Thus, while they were all in great expectation, waiting every man to see whom she would nominate, the queen with a loud voice said to Guido that stood among them, "Guido, my lord, I choose thee for my husband, and, yielding myself and my kingdom unto you, openly I proclaim you to be the king." At these words all the assembly, being amazed, wondered that one simple woman had beguiled so many wise men. And she was worthy, no doubt, to be commended and extolled for her singular virtue, both of faithfulness and prudence: so managing the matter, that she obtained to her husband the kingdom, and retained to herself her husband, whom she so faithfully loved.

As I have hitherto described the public acts of King Henry, so now I mean to say something of his private condition. He was of mean stature, eloquent, and learned, manly and bold in chivalry, fearful of the mutability and chance of war, more lamenting the death of his soldiers when dead, than loving them when alive. No one was more courteous and liberal for obtaining his purpose; in peace and tranquillity none was more rough; stubborn against the stubborn; sometimes merciful to those whom he had vanquished; strict to his household servants, but liberal to strangers; publicly of public things liberal, sparing of his own; whoever he once took a displeasure against he hardly or never would receive again to favour; somewhat lavish of his tongue, a willing breaker of his promise, a lover of his ease, but an oppressor of his nobility; a severe avenger and promoter of justice, variable of word, and crafty in his talk, a nourisher of discord amongst his children; moreover the papists, bearing him (for Thomas Becket's quarrel, and such like, as may be gathered) no good will, term him an adversary of the faith.

He died in the five-and-thirtieth year of his reign, in the castle of Chinon in Normandy.

KING RICHARD.

King Richard, the eldest son of Henry II., succeeded his father (A. D. 1189); at which time Pope Clement sat at Rome, succeeding Gregory, who died a little before with sorrow for the loss of the holy cross.

During the time of his coronation it happened," that, although the king, the day before his coronation, by public edict, had commanded the Jews and their wives not to presume either to enter the church or palace, during the solemnization of his coronation, amongst his nobles and barons, yet, while the king was at dinner, the chief of the Jews, with several others, entered the court gates. A christian man, being offended, struck one of them, and bade him stand further from the court gate, as the king had given commandment. Others following the example, and displeased against the Jews, offered them similar insalt. Others, also, supposing that the king had so commanded, fell upon all the Jews that stood outside the court gate: and first they beat them, but afterwards they took up stones and such other things as they could get, and threw at them from the court gates, some of them they wounded, some they slew, and some they left for dead.

There was among the Jews, one who was called the blessed Jew of York, who was so severely wounded, that for fear of his life, he said he would become a christian, and was baptized; by which he escaped death, and the persecutors' hands. In the meanwhile, there was a great rumour spread throughout all the city of London, that the king had commanded to destroy all the Jews. Upon

which, the citizens, and innumerable people, being assembled to see the king's coronation, armed themselves and came together. The Jews thus being for the most part slain, the rest fled into their houses, where, for a time, they were defended; but at length their houses were set on fire, and they destroyed within them.

These things being declared to the king while he was with his nobles and barons at dinner, he sends immediately Ranulfe de Glanville, the lord high steward of England, with other noblemen to accompany him, that they might stay and refrain these excesses of the Londoners; but all was in vain; for in so great a tumult, there was none that either regarded what the nobility said, or reverenced their persons, but, rather with stern looks and threatening words, advised them to depart, and that quickly. They, thinking it best to do so, departed; the tumult and insurrection continuing till the next day. At which time the king, sending certain of his officers into the city, gave them in command to apprehend and present such as were the chief of the malefactors. Three were condemned to be hanged; one, because he had robbed a christian's house in the tumult; and the other two because they fired the houses to the great danger of the city. After this, the king sent for the man that from a Jew was converted to christianity, and in the presence of those that saw where he was baptized, the king asked him whether he was become a christian or not? He, answering the king, said "No; but to the intent he might escape death, he promised to do whatever the christians would have him." Then the king asked the archbishop of Canterbury (other archbishops and bishops being present) what were best to be done with him? Who, unadvisedly answering, said, "If he will not be a man of God, let him be a man of the devil," and so he returned again to Judaism. Then the king sent his writs to the sheriff's of every county, to inquire for the authors of this outrage. Of whom three were hanged; and several were imprisoned. So great was then the hatred of Englishmen against the Jews, that as soon as they began to be removed from the court, the Londoners fell upon them, set their houses on fire, and spoiled their goods. The country again, following the example of the Londoners, did the same. thus the year which the Jews took to be their jubilee, was to them a year of confusion. In the city of York, the Jews obtaining a certain castle for their preservation, and afterward not being willing to restore it to the christians again, when they saw no other remedy, but to be vanquished by force, first offered money for their lives; when that would not be taken, by the counsel of an old Jew among them, every one, with a sharp razor, cut another's throat, whereby a thousand and five hundred of them were destroyed.

And

King Richard, after the death of his father, coming to remembrance of himself, and of his rebellion against his father, sought for absolution; and, in satisfaction for the same, agreed with Philip the French King, to take his voyage with him for the recovery of Christ's patrimony, as they call the Holy Land.

After this, King Richard, preparing to set all things in an order before his going, committed the whole government of the realm, principally to William, bishop of Ely, his chancellor, and to Hugh, bishop of Durham, whom he appointed the chief justice of all England in his absence, sending also to Pope Clement, in behalf of William, bishop of Ely, that he might be made the pope's legate through all England and Scotland, which also was obtained. Thus the bishop, being advanced to high authority, provides out of every city in England, two palfries, and two sumpters, and also out of every abbey, one palfry, and one sumpter, for the king's service in Palestine.

These things being set in order, the king, according to his appointment, sailed into France, where the French king and he conferring together, prorogued their voyage till after midsummer. In the meantime, the king ococcupied himself in redressing and establishing such things as were requisite. He appointed the captains and constables over his navy, and set laws to be ob

served in his voyage upon the seas, but especially his care was to make unity and concord between parties that were at variance, and to reconcile them.

After King Richard had composed such things as were to be redressed within the realm, he advanced forward his journey, and came to Touraine, to meet with Philip the French king; and so after that went to Vezelay; where the French king and he joining together, for the continuance of their journey, assured themselves by solemn oath, swearing fidelity one to the other; the form of whose oath was this: "That either of them should defend and maintain the honour of the other, and bear true fidelity unto him of life, members, and worldly honour; and that neither of them should fail one the other in their affairs; but the French king should aid the king of England in defending his land and dominions, as he would himself defend his own city of Paris, if it were besieged; and that King Richard of England likewise should aid the French king in defending his land and dominions, no otherwise than he would defend his own city of Rouen if it were besieged," &c.

But how slenderly this oath held these two kings, and by whose chief occasion it first fell asunder, the sequel of the history (the Lord willing) shall declare.

The laws and ordinances appointed by King Richard for his navy were these :

1. That whoever killed any person on shipboard, should be tied with him that was slain, and thrown into the sea. 2. And if he killed him on the land, he should in like manner be tied with the party slain, and be buried with him in the earth.

3. He that shall be convicted by lawful witness to draw out his knife or weapon, to the intent to strike any man, or that hath stricken any to the drawing of blood, shall lose his hand.

4. Also, he that strikes any person with his hand, without effusion of blood, shall be plunged three times in the sea.

5. Whoso speaks any opprobrious or contumelious words in reviling or cursing one another, for so often as he hath so reviled, shall pay so many ounces of silver.

6. A thief or felon that has stolen, being lawfully convicted, shall have his head shorn, and boiling pitch poured upon his head, and feathers or down strewed upon the same, whereby he may be known; and so at the first landing-place they shall come to, there to be cast up, &c.

King Richard sending his navy by the Spanish seas, and by the straits of Gibraltar, to meet him at Marseilles, went himself to Vezelay, to the French king. The two kings from thence went to Lyons, where the bridge over the Rhone gave way with the press of people, and many, both men and women, were drowned. The two kings were then constrained to separate for the rest of their journey, arranging to meet in Sicily; and so Philip took his way to Genoa, and King Richard to Marseilles, where he remained eight days, appointing his navy to meet him there. From thence crossing over to Genoa, where the French king was, he passed forward by the coast of Italy, and entered the Tiber not far from Rome, where meeting with Ottoman, the cardinal and bishop of Hostia, he complained greatly of the filthy simony of the pope and the pope's court, for receiving seven hundred marks for consecrating the bishop Cenomanensis; also a thousand and five hundred marks from William the bishop of Ely for his office as legate; and likewise an infinite sum of money from the bishop of Bordeaux, for acquitting him when he should have been deposed for a certain crime laid to his charge by his clergy, &c.

The seventh day of August King Richard departed from Marseilles, and the three-and-twentieth of September arrived at Messina, with such a noise of trumpets and shawms, with such a rout and show, that it was to the great wonder and terror both of the Frenchmen and all others that heard and beheld the sight.

The French king had come to the town of Messina before the sixteenth day of the month of September, and had taken the palace of Tancred, king of Sicily, for his lodgings. King Richard after his arrival, soon went to him; and when the two kings had conversed together,

immediately the same day the French king took shipping to sail to the land of Jerusalem. But after he was out of the haven, the wind rising against him, he returned to Messina. The last day of September, Richard passed over the flood of Delfar, and there gained a strong hold called De la Bagmare, or Le Bamre, and placing therein a sufficient garrison, he returned to Messina. The second of October he won another stronghold, and he deposited there all his store and provision, which came from England or other places.

The citizens of Messina, seeing that the king of England had won the castle and island in De la Bagmare, and also the monastery of the Griffons, and doubting lest the King would extend his power further to invade their city, and if he could, all the Isle of Sicily, began to stir against the king's army, and to shut the Englishmen out of the gates, and keep their walls against them. The Englishmen seeing that, made to the gates, and by force would have broken them open, so that the king riding among them with his staff, and breaking some of their heads, could not assuage their fierceness; such was the rage of the Englishmen against the citizens of Messina.

The fourth day of the month of October, the archbishop of Messina came to King Richard, with two other archbishops, also with the French king, and other earls, barons, and bishops, to treat for peace. As they were consulting, and had almost concluded upon the peace, the citizens of Messina issued out of the town, some went up upon the mountains, some with open force invaded the mansion or lodging of Hugh Brun an English captain. The noise of this coming to the ears of the king, he, suddenly breaking off the conference with the French king and the rest, departed, and coming to his men, commanded them forthwith to arm themselves; who then, with some of his soldiers, making up to the top of a mountain, there put the citizens to flight, chasing them down the mountain, to the very gates of the city; some of the king's servants pursued them within the city, where five valiant soldiers, and twenty of the king's servants were slain, the French king looking on, and not once desiring to rescue them, contrary to his oath and league with the king of England. For the French king with his men, being there present, rode in the midst of them safely and without harm to and fro, and might well have assisted the king's party, if he wished.

This being known to the English army, how their comrades were slain, and the Frenchmen permitted in the city, and that they were excluded, and the gates barred against them, being also stopped from buying of food and other things; they with great indignation, gathered themselves in arms, burst open the gates, and scaled the walls, and so, winning the city, set up their flags, with the English arms upon the walls. When the French king saw this he was offended; requiring the king of England that the arms of France might also be set up and joined with his; but King Richard would not agree; but to satisfy his mind, he consented to take down his arms, and commit the custody of the city to the Hospitale and Templars of Jerusalem, till the time that Tancred king of Sicily and he, should agree together upon the conditions. In this mean time, as these two kings of France and England were thus wintering at Messina, the emperor, Frederick I. (on whose neck Pope Alexander trod in the church of Venice, saying the verse of the psalm, "Thou shalt tread on the serpents and the adders,") and his son Conrad, with a mighty army of Germans and others, were coming likewise to the siege of Acre; where the emperor, falling off his horse into a river, was drowned. Conrad, his son, taking the command of his army, came to the siege of Acre, in which siege he also died. In consequence of the coming of this multitude of Germans, there was a dearth in the camp, which lasted two months, so that a loaf of bread, which before the coming of the German army was sold for one penny, was afterward sold for three pounds, by reason of this many christian soldiers perished through famine. The chief food which the princes had to feed upon was horse-flesh. This famine being so miserable, some good bishops who were in the camp, namely, Hubert bishop of Salisbury, with certain others, making a

general collection through the whole camp for the poor, made such a provision that in this penury of all things, no man was so destitute and needy, but he had somewhat for his relief; till within a few days after by the merciful providence of God, who is the feeder of all creatures, ships came to them with abundance of corn, wine, and oil.

The siege of this town of Acre lasted a long time, and as it was ably assailed by the christians, so it was strongly defended by the Saracens, especially by the help of wildfire, which the Latins call Greek fire, so that there was great slaughter on both sides.

The next year following (A. D. 1191), King Richard sent over his gallies to Naples, there to meet his mother Elenor, and Berengaria the daughter of Sancius king of Navarre, whom he purposed to marry. In the meantime King Richard shewed himself exceeding bountiful and liberal to all. To the French king he gave several ships; upon others he bestowed rich rewards; and of his goods and treasure he distributed largely to his soldiers and servants about him. It was reported that he distributed more in one month, than any of his predecessors did in a whole year; by which he obtained great love and favour, which not only redounded to the advancement of his fame, but also to his great advantage and profit, as the sequel proved.

To proceed then in the progress of King Richard, leaving the city of Messina, he went to Catana, where Tancred king of Sicily then lay, where he was honourably received, and remained with King Tancred three days and three nights. On the fourth day, when he was departing, Tancred offered him many rich presents in gold and silver, and precious silks; of which King Richard would receive nothing, but one little ring, as a token of his good will. For which King Richard again gave him a rich sword. At length, when King Richard should take his leave, King Tancred would not so let him part, but would give him four great ships, and fifteen gallies; and he himself would accompany him the space of two days journey to a place called Tavernium.

Then the next morning when they should take their leave, Tancred declared to him the message which the French king a little before had sent to him by the duke of Burgundy, which was this: "That the king of England was a false traitor, and would never keep the peace that was between them. And if Tancred would war against him, or attack him secretly by night, he would assist him with all his power, and join with him to the destruction of him and all his army," &c. Richard the king protested that he was no traitor, nor ever was; and as to the peace begun between them, it should never be broken through him; nor could he believe that the French king, being his good lord and his sworn partner in that voyage, would utter any such words by him. When Tancred heard this, he brings forth the letters of the French king sent to him by the duke of Burgundy; affirming, that if the duke of Burgundy would deny the bringing of the letters, he was ready to meet him by any of his dukes. King Richard receiving the letters, and musing not a little upon them, returns to Messina. From that time King Richard being angered against King Philip, never shewed him any gentle countenance peace and amity, as he was wont before.

Soon after this, King Philip sailed for Acre, and the next month King Richard sailed with an hundred and fifty great ships, and three-and-fifty great gallies well manned and appointed, also towards Acre; on Good Friday there rose a mighty tempest, which scattered all his navy. The king with a few ships, was driven to the isle of Crete. The ship that carried the king's sister queen of Sicilia, and Berengaria the king of Navarre's daughter, with two other ships, were driven to the isle of Cyprus. The king making great moan for the ship of his sister, and Berengaria his intended wife, and not knowing where they were, after the tempest was blown over, sent his gallies diligently to search for the ship wherein his sister was, and the maiden whom he was to marry; at length they were found safe and well at the port of Limisso in the isle of Cyprus. Though the two ships, which were in their company in the same haven, were lost. The

king of Cyprus was then Isakius (called also the emperor of the Griffons) who took and imprisoned all Englishmen, who were cast by shipwreck upon his land; and would not suffer the ship wherein the two ladies were to enter within the port.

The tidings of this being brought to King Richard, he in his great wrath, gathering his gallies and ships together, landed in Cyprus, where he first in gentle terms signifies to King Isakius, how he with his Englishmen, coming as strangers to the support of the Holy Land, where by distress of weather, driven upon his borders, and therefore with all humble petition besought him in God's behalf, and for reverence of the holy cross, to release such prisoners of his as he had in captivity, and to restore again the goods of them who were drowned, and which he detained in his hands, to be employed for the benefit of their souls, &c. And this the king, once, twice, and thrice requested of Isakius. But he, answering proudly, sent the king word, that he would neither let the captives go, nor return the goods of those who were drowned, &c.

When King Richard heard how little Isakius made of his humble and honest petition, and how nothing there could be got without force; he soon gives command through all his army, to put themselves in armour, and to follow him, to revenge the injuries received from that proud and cruel king of Cyprus; desiring them to put their trust in God, and not to doubt but the Lord would stand with them, and give them the full victory. Isakius in the mean time, stood guarding the sea coasts, where the Englishmen should arrive, with swords, bills, and lances, and such other weapons as they had, setting boards, stools, and chests before them instead of a wall.. However, but few of them were in armour, and for the most part inexpert, and unskilful in the feats of war. Then King Richard with his soldiers, issuing out of their ships, first set his bowmen forward, who with their shot made a way for others to follow. The Englishmen, thus gaining the land, pressed so fiercely upon the Griffons, that after long fighting, and many blows, Isakius was put to flight; King Richard valiantly pursued, and slew many, and several he took alive, and had nearly taken the king, had not the night come on and parted the battle. And thus King Richard returning with much spoil and great victory to the port town of Limisso, which the townsmen had abandoned for fear, found there great abundance of corn, wine, oil, and provisions.

The same day, Joan the king's sister, and Berengaria the maiden entered the port and town of Limisso, with fifty great ships, and fourteen galliots; so that the whole navy, there meeting together, were two hundred and fifty four tall ships, and above threescore galliots. Then Isakius, seeing no way to escape by sea, pitched his tents five miles off, swearing that the third day he would give battle to King Richard. But Richard set upon the tents of the Griffons early, while they were unwares and asleep, and made a great slaughter of them, so that Isakius was compelled to run away naked, leaving his tents and pavilions to the Englishmen, full of horses and rich treasure,also with the imperial standard, the lower part of which with a costly streamer was covered and wrought all with gold. King Richard then returning with victory and triumph to his sister and Berengaria, shortly after, married Berengaria, in the isle of Cyprus.

Is akius being afterwards taken and sent in chains of silver and gold to Tripoli, and all things being set in order touching the possession of the isle of Cyprus, the keeping of it he committed to Radulph, son of Godfrey, lord chamberlain. King Richard departed from the isle of Cyprus, with his ships and gallies towards the siege of Acre; and on his voyage he met with a great bark, fraught with soldiers and men of war, to the number of one thousand and five hundred; who pretending to be Frenchmen, and shewing their flag with French arms, were really Saracens in disguise, secretly sent with wildfire, and barrels of unknown serpents, to the defence of the town of Acre. King Richard at length perceiving this, soon set upon them, and vanquished them, the most of them were drowned, and some were taken alive. The next day, King Richard came to Acre: soon after his coming, the Pagans within the city seeing their walls

:

undermined, and towers overthrown, were driven to escape with life and limb, to surrender the city to the two kings. Another great help to the christians in winning the city was this in the city of Acre there was a secret christian among the Saracens, who in the time of the siege, used to cast over the walls, into the camp of the christians, certain letters written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, in which he disclosed to the christians, from time to time, the doings and counsels of their enemies, advertising them how, and by what way they should work, and what to beware of; and always his letters began thus: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." By this, the christians were much advantaged in their proceedings. But it was a source of great heaviness to them, that he would never tell his name, nor when the city was got, could they ever understand who he

was.

To make of a long siege a short narration, upon the twelfth day of July (A. D. 1191), the princes and captains of the Pagans, upon agreement came to the tent of the Templars, to commune with the two kings touching peace and giving up of their city.

The twentieth day of July, King Richard, speaking with the French king, desired him that they two with their armies would bind themselves by oath to remain there still in the land of Jerusalem the space of three years, for the winning and recovering again of those countries. But he said he would swear no such oath. So about the beginning of the month of August, Philip the French king, went from Acre to Tyre; although King Richard and all the princes of the christian army with great intreaty desired him to tarry; shewing what a shame it were for him to come so far, and now to leave undone that for which he came. After his departure the Pagans refused to keep their covenants; they would neither restore the holy cross, nor the money, nor the captives, as they had pledged; sending word to King Richard, that if he beheaded the hostages left with him at Acre, they would chop off the heads of such captives of the christians as were in their hands. Shortly after this, the Saladin, sending great gifts to King Richard, requested the time limited, viz., forty days for beheading the captives might be prolonged; but the king refused to take his gifts, and to grant his request. Whereupon the Saladin caused all the christian captives within his possession forthwith to be beheaded, which was the eighteenth day of August. But yet, King Richard would not anticipate the time before prescribed for the execution of his prisoners, being the twentieth of August. Upon which day he caused the prisoners of the Saracens, openly in the sight of the Saladin army, to lose their heads the number came to two thousand five hundred, save only that certain of the principal of them he reserved for purposes, and considerations, especially to make exchange for the holy cross, and some of the christian captives.

After this, King Richard purposed to besiege the city of Joppa; where, by the way between Acre and Joppa, Saladin with a great multitude of his Saracens came fiercely against the king's rear: but through God's merciful grace, the king's warriors acquitted them so well, that the Saladin was put to flight (whom the christians pursued the space of three miles), and lost the same day many of his nobles and captives, so that the Saladin had not been put to such confusion for forty years before. From thence King Richard went to Joppa, and then to Ascalon, where he found first the city of Joppa forsaken by the Saracens, who durst not abide the king's coming. And Ascalon, the Saladin threw down to the ground, and forsook the holy land of Syria; through all which the king had free passage without resistance, neither durst the Saracen prince encounter after that with King

Richard.

Many other valiant and famous acts were achieved by him and the French king, and more would have been accomplished, had not those two kings, falling into discord, separated themselves. Philip, the French king, returned home within a short time, and soon invaded Normandy, urging John, the brother of King Richard, to seize the kingdom of England in his brother's absence;

who then made league with the French king, and did homage to him. Richard being then in Syria, and hearing of this, made a peace with the Turks for three years. And not long after (in the spring following) King Richard returned also. In his return he was driven, by distress of weather, about the parts of Istria, in a town called Synaca, and was there taken by Leopold, duke of the same country, and sold to the Emperor Henry, for 60,000 marks.

King Richard, being thus shipwrecked, and traitorously taken and sold to the emperor by the Duke of Austria, was there kept in custody a year and three months. In some histories, it is affirmed that King Richard, returning out of Asia, came to Italy with prosperous winds, where he desired of the pope to be absolved from an oath made against his will, and could not obtain the absolution. And so setting out from thence towards England, passing by the country of Conrad, the marquis, whose death was falsely imputed by the French king to the king of England, was there traitorously taken, as is before said, by Leopold, duke of Austria. Although in another history I find the matter more credibly set forth, which saith, "That King Richard slew the brother of this Leopold, playing with him at chess in the French king's court. And Leopold, taking his advantage, was the more cruel against him, and delivered him, as is said, to the emperor; in whose custody he was detained during the time above mentioned, a year and three months. The French king, in the meantime, raised war in Normandy; and Earl John, the king's brother, invaded England; but the barons and bishops of the land mightily withstood him, and besieged him in the castle of Windsor, where they took from him all the castles and forts, which he had got before. Thus the earl, seeing no hope of prevailing in England, and suspecting the deliverance of the king his brother, went to France, and stayed with the French king. At length it was agreed and concluded with the emperor, that King Richard should be released for a hundred thousand pounds. That sum of money was here gathered, and made in England, of chalices, crosses, shrines, candlesticks, and other church plate, also with public contribution of friaries, abbies, and other subjects of the realm. Part of this sum was immediately paid, and for the residue, hostages and pledges were taken, which was about the fifth year of his reign. And then it was obtained of the pope, that priests might celebrate with chalices of pewter and tin, and so it was granted and continued long after.

Thus King Richard being ransomed, was restored again and repaired into England. At his return Earl John his brother, coming to him with humble submission, desired to be pardoned for his trangressions. King Richard an. swered, "I would to God that this your misconduct as it dies in oblivion with me, so it may remain in remembrance with you," and so he gently forgave him. And after he had recovered his holds and castles, he caused himself to be crowned again. Which done, he went with his forces against the French king, and drove him out of Normandy. And after that, he went against the Welshmen, and subdued them.

The year following, (A.D. 1197,) Philip the French king brake the truce made between him and King Richard; and the king was compelled to sail over again to Normandy to withstand the malice of his enemy. About which time, my history records of one called Fulco by some; some say he was the archbishop of Rouen, called Walter. This Fulco being then in England, and coming to the king's presence, said to him with great courage and boldness; "Thou hast, O mighty king, three daughters very vicious and of evil disposition; take good heed of them, and at once provide for them good husbands; lest, by untimely bestowing them in marriage, thou shalt not only incur great loss and injury, but also utter ruin and destruction to thyself." The king in a rage said, "Thou lying and mocking hypocrite, thou knowest not where thou art, or what thou sayest; I think thou art mad, or not well in thy wits; for I have never had a daughter, as all the world knows, and therefore thou open liar get thee out of our presence." Fulco answered, "No, and like your grace,