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Itinerary
114
the man whom he much admired for the report of his magnanimity and
valour. Now the city of Fatina was situated midway between Messina and
Palermo, and King Richard assenting, went to meet him at the appointed
place, with a splendid company of his nobles. And when they had met
according to appointment, each was exceedingly rejoiced at the arrival of
the other, and strove to shew every mutual civility, and they entered into a
treaty of friendship; by which they bound themselves to preserve peace
between each other, and having exchanged gifts of royal magnificence,
they concluded the ceremony in a becoming manner, and separated, King
Tancred returning to Palermo, and King Richard to Messina.
Chapter XXIII. Ñ How King Richard bestows most ample gifts on his soldiers
and others who had been impoverished by his stay there.
Meanwhile, the soldiers, who had been at great expense during the
summer while the aforesaid troubles and disturbances were going on, liked
not so long, so idle, and so useless a delay. For they considered that their
brethren in Christ were constantly engaged in contests at the siege of Acre,
and that they had already spent the greater part of their substance, and had
even been compelled to restore what they acquired by plundering the
captured city. King Richard, being moved by the prevalence of complaints
of this kind, with royal munificence bestowed gifts on all that needed it,
beyond their expectation, so that each one was most sufficiently enriched
according to his rank. The knights were amply relieved by these gifts,
whether of gold or silver, or any other kind; and even noble women of
Palestine, who had been deprived of their inheritance and exiled, both
widows and virgins, were bountifully enriched. King Richard thus
obtained the gratitude and favour of all, for he gave the foot-soldiers and
attendants of inferior rank a hundred sols at least. The king of France, also
allured by his example, bestowed very many gifts on his own men. Hence
fresh joy reigned among the people, and those who had been broken down
by sorrow were raised up by such generous magnificence.

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Itinerary
115
Chapter XXIV. Ñ Of the great feast given by King Richard at Mategriffin, on
Christmas Day, to which he invited the king of France and all his people, and of his
splendid gifts.
The great festival of Christmas was at hand, kept with the greater
solemnity as it was the more needful for the redemption of the human race.
In honour of this festival, King Richard invited, with all respect, the king of
France to dinner, and by the public crier called upon every soul to pass that
day with him in joy and gladness. At his courteous request, the king of
France came with an innumerable band of nobles, and a crowd of others.
He labours not much who compels a willing person; and we cannot
suppose many were absent from King RichardÕs feast. They were,
therefore, received with honour into the castle of Mategriffin, which he had
built against the will of the natives, and where every one sat down
according to his rank. Who could count the variety of dishes which were
brought in, or the different kinds of cups, or the crowds of servants in
splendid attire? which, if any one wishes to do, let him measure in his
mind the magnanimity of King Richard, and then he can understand the
kind of feast which would be prepared. You might have seen there nothing
unbecoming or inapposite Ñ nothing which was not of value and
commendable; for the dishes and platters on which they were served were
of no other material or substance than gold or silver, and all the vessels
were of wrought gold or silver, with images of men and beasts worked
thereon with the chisel or the file, and adorned with precious stories.
Moreover, their joyous countenances were conspicuous above all, and gave
a grace to the festival; and the guests were entertained with the
cheerfulness of the entertainers over and above the variety and abundance
of meat and drink. After the feast was at an end, King Richard set before
the king of France the most beautiful cups, and gave him his choice in
honour of the occasion, and gave to each of the nobles presents according
to his rank; for like Titus, with whose hand he lavished his wealth, he
thought that the day was lost on which he happened to have given
nothing.

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