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"Oh!" exclaims his fellow crusader, Geoffrey de Vinsauf, in a passage which furnishes a summary of his reign, "Oh! how inequitably was he recompensed for his exertions in the common cause! His inheritance was seized by another, his Norman castles taken, his rivals made cruel assaults on his rights without provocation, and he only escaped from captivity by paying a ransom to the emperor. To gather the money, the taxes were raised to the uttermost, a heavy talliage was laid on all his lands, and everything was put under contribution; even the chalices and hallowed vessels of gold and silver were gathered from the churches, and the monasteries parted with their ornaments; nor was this against the decrees of the holy fathers; nay, it was a duty, for no saint, many though there be, ever during life suffered so much for their Lord as did King Richard in his captivity. He who had gained so many triumphs over the infidels was basely circumvented by the brethren of his own faith, and seized by those who only in name were members of Christ . . . . At last restored to his native soil, and the kingdom of his ancestors, he soon restored all things to tranquillity; then, crossing into Normandy to avenge himself on the king of France, he more than once defeated him, and by

of the original, and hardly does justice to its sentiments; the first stanza is here given:

"No wretched captive of his prison speaks,

Unless with pain and bitterness of soul,
Yet consolation from the Muse he seeks,
Whose voice alone misfortune can control.
Where now is each ally, each baron, friend,
Whose face I ne'er beheld without a smile?
Will none, his sovereign to redeem, expend
The smallest portion of his treasure vile ?"

the power of his sword and his spear he recovered his alienated rights, even with augmentation."

A.D. 1189. Richard is received as sovereign of Normandy, July 20.

He liberates his mother from confinement, and appoints her regent in England; he also bestows the earldom of Mortaigne and great estates on his brother John.

Richard comes to England and is crowned, Sept. 3m; a number of Jews venture to appear at his coronation, which leads to a massacre among them in London.

The king raises money by violent means for his crusade; his natural brother, Geoffrey, having, without his permission, accepted the archbishopric of York, is imprisoned, and only released by payment of a large fine; the earldom of Northumberland sold to the bishop of Durham; the castles on the Scottish border are given up, and the homage of the Scottish king excused for a sum of money.

He fills up several vacant bishoprics, and returns to Normandy in December.

A.D. 1190. The massacre of the Jews is renewed in several places, particularly at York, where many, being besieged in the castle, commit suicide after destroying their treasures, March 17o.

Richard's fleet assembles at Dartmouth, whence it sails in April. It consisted of upwards of 100 large, and

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The years of his reign are computed from this day.

Richard sent his chancellor (William de Longchamp) to York to punish the rioters, when many fled to Scotland, and others had to compound for their offence by heavy fines.

many smaller vessels, and was under the nominal command of Gerard, archbishop of Aix, and Bernard, bishop. of Bayonne, assisted by Richard de Camville, Robert de Sabloil, and William de Fortz, who were styled "leaders and governors of all the king's ships," or

sea justices." The fleet, on its passage, assists the people of Lisbon against the Mohammedans, arrives at Marseilles Aug. 22, and reaches Messina, with the troops on board, Sept. 14.

William de Longchampo, bishop of Ely, is appointed guardian of the realm during the king's absence; Earl John P, and Geoffrey, archbishop of York, are forbidden to repair to England.

Richard assembles his army at Tours, and thence marches to Vezelai, where he joins the French forces, July 1; embarks, with his personal attendants only, at Marseilles early in August, coasts Italy, and arrives at Messina, Sept. 23.

The inhabitants of Messina, "commonly called Griffons, a wicked and cruel race, many of them of Saracen extraction," insult and injure the English crusaders. King Richard erects gibbets, and tries and executes the offenders; "for, esteeming the country of the guilty of no consequence, he considered every one his subjects, and left no transgression unpunished."

He was a Norman of mean extraction, and had formerly been in the service of Geoffrey, the archbishop.

P Though John had been most generously treated, the estates bestowed on him amounting to nearly one-third of the kingdom, he had already begun to intrigue against his brother, and Geoffrey was known to be indignant at the elevation of Longchamp.

A corruption of Greeks, by which name the inhabitants of southern Italy were generally known to, and despised by, the crusaders.

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Richard seizes La Banniere, a castle in Calabria, which he bestows on his sister for a residence, Oct. 1, and occupies a monastery on the straits of Messina as a stronghold, putting the garrison to death.

The Messinese continuing their attempts to destroy his troops, Richard assaults and captures the city "in less time than a priest could chant matins," Oct. 4. He also builds a stout wooden fortress on the hill overlooking the city, styling it Mategriffon, and supports his men with provisions from the fleet, the Messinese refusing all supplies.

Henry II., count of Champagne, is sent forward with a portion of the armament for the relief of Acre.

The kings of England and France quarrel, the latter siding with the Messinese.

Richard obliges Tancred to pay a heavy compensation to Queen Joanna, and in return engages to support him on the thronet.

Richard celebrates the Christmas festival in splendid style at his castle of Mategriffon, and bestows liberal gifts on his people. "The knights were amply relieved, who had spent great part of their substance, the footmen and attendants received 100 sols each at least, and noble women of Palestine, whether widows or virgins, who had been despoiled of their inheritance and exiled, were bountifully enriched."

* Joanna, the widow of William the Good; she had been despoiled of her dower and imprisoned by Tancred, his successor.

He was the son of Mary, daughter of Queen Eleanor, by her first husband, Louis VII. of France, and consequently Richard's nephew.

He thus made an enemy of Henry VI., who claimed possession of Sicily in right of his wife Constance, the aunt of Tancred.

A.D. 1191. The king grants a charter admitting Rye and Winchelsea to many of the privileges of the Cinque Ports, March 27.

Queen Eleanor arrives at Messina with the princess Berengaria of Navarre.

The French force sails from Sicily March 30, and arrives at Acre April 21.

The English fleet, which sails April 10, is scattered by storms; Richard reaches Rhodes April 20; his queen and sister are driven to Limesol, in Cyprus, but do not land; others of his ships are seized and plundered.

Richard repairs to Cyprus, dethrones the tyrant IsaacTM, confirms their ancient laws to the people, and appoints Richard de Camville and Robert de Thurburn governors of the island, with directions to form magazines for the support of his troops in Palestine.

The king marries Berengaria, at Limesol, May 13; she is crowned next day.

The fleet sails from Famagusta, June 3, and off Beyrout captures a very large Saracen vessel, June 5.

Richard arrives at Acre, June 8.

Both the kings fell ill almost immediately after their arrival at Acre, but they vigorously pushed on the siege, and King Richard especially exerted himself in con

"He belonged to the imperial family of Constantinople, and having been appointed viceroy of the island in 1182, made himself independent, and ruled the people with great cruelty. Being defeated and captured by Richard, he was committed to the charge of the Hospitallers, and imprisoned at Margath, a fortress on the Syrian coast. The Cypriotes soon revolted, and chose another of the Comneni for king, but he was taken and hanged. Isaac escaped after a while by bribing his guards, and endeavoured to establish himself in Asia Minor; he was at last poisoned by one of his attendants.

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