Microsoft Word richard of holy trinity inp

separated themselves from the rest of the army, and how Henry, duke of Burgundy,
composed a satirical poem against King Richard,
We must not wonder that the pilgrims who were thus harassed
without any good result, grieved at the failure of their wishes, for discord
grew rife amongst them; nor that the vacillating character of the French,
which distinguished them from all other nations, should have been here
displayed. For at evening, when the army advanced on their march, the
French separated themselves from the rest, and took up a distinct position,
as if they disdained their company. They were not, however, content with
separating only, but they fell to quarrelling among themselves, and gave
utterance to ironical jests and abusive language, each vaunting his own
superior prowess, while they disparaged that of the others. Above all,
Henry, duke of Burgundy, whether instigated by a spirit of arrogance, or
influenced by envy and jealousy, composed and caused to be recited in
public, a song, which if he had any sense of shame, he would never have
allowed to be published; and those songs were sung not only by men but
by immodest women. By which means, they shewed the real character of
those who indulged in such indecent folly, and the nature of their hearts
was sufficiently manifest from this fact, for the stream is clear or turbid
according as is its source. On this composition becoming current amongst
the soldiers, King Richard was much annoyed, but he thought that a

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Itinerary
257
similar effusion would be the best mode of revenging himself on the
authors, and he had not much difficulty in composing it, as there was
abundance of materials; why then should he hesitate to reply to such a
false and scurrilous composition? Moreover, the kingÕs high honour was so
evident in all his actions, that his rivals, who could not equal him, assailed
him with foul and gratuitous aspersions. For they were not like the
pilgrims of yore who besieged and captured Antioch, and whose famous
deeds and victories are still recited in song. Such were Boemund, Tancred,
and Godfrey of Bouillon, and other princes of high renown, who gained so
many triumphs, and whose exploits are like food in the mouths of their
narrators. Men, who because their hearts were true to the service of God,
received from the Lord the reward of their labours, who magnified them
by giving them an immortal name, which posterity should regard with the
deepest veneration.
Chapter IX. Ñ Of the return of the army from Betenoble to Joppa.
The army remained in this state for some days after the capture of the
caravan, and were in great sorrow and distress in consequence of the check
put on their progress to visit the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, from which
they were only four miles distant. The dejection which their return caused
was never before equalled in a people of the like valour. Our men, on
setting out on their march, were attacked by the Turks from the mountains,
and some of our camp-followers were slain, though they were repulsed by
our horsemen, from not having good horses. The army afterwards arrived
at a place between Saint George and Ramula, where they spent the night,
the French posting themselves on the left, the king and his men on the
right. Next day they proceeded on their march in separate divisions, and
arrived at night at a castle midway; this was on the 6th of July. Here some
in disgust deserted the army, on account of the tediousness and penury to
which they were exposed in the expedition: these went to Joppa.
Chapter X. Ñ How Saladin, learning the discord and departure of the Christians,