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Itinerary
118
winds and the waves of the sea. Then the whole multitude of ships was
launched into the sea, impelled by numerous oarsmen. The city of Messina
might justly boast that so great a fleet had never in past ages quitted those
shores; and that they never will see there such a one again. Therefore, on
the seventeenth day after the departure of the king of France, i.e. on the
Wednesday after Palm Sunday, King Richard followed with a numerous
fleet of ships, and passing amid the Faro with a fair breeze, some by sailing,
some by rowing, they came out into the deep, Ñ the dromons, however,
keeping them in the rear as Richard had planned, in order that, as far as it
was possible to avoid it, they should not part company, unless they were
accidentally separated by the tides; while the galleys purposely relaxed
their speed and kept pace with the ships of burthen, to guard their
multitude and protect the weaker.
Chapter XXVII. Ñ Of the winds that were at one time calm, at another agitating
the sea, and the dangers which King Richard sustained as far as Crete, and from
Crete to Rhodes.
The wind all at once began to fall gradually, so that the fleet was
compelled to remain motionless at anchor between Calabria and Mount
Gibello; but on the morrow, i. e. the day of the LordÕs Supper, He who
withdraws and sends forth the winds from his treasuries, sent us a wind
which continued the whole day, not too strong, but impelling the fleet at a
moderate speed; but after that it abated altogether on the following night.
But on Holy Friday, a contrary wind arising, drove it back to the left, and
the sea being very much agitated thereby, boiled up from the very depths,
while the waves beat together, and the storm increased; the roar of the
dashing waves, and the ships creaking with the violence of the wind,
struck all with no small terror, and from the excessive fury of the latter, all
management of the ships was at an end; for no pilot could steer them while
tossing to and fro in such a manner. They were borne hither and thither;
their line was broken, and they went different ways. The crews committed
themselves to the guidance of the Lord, despairing of earthly aid; but as far
as human weakness permitted, we determined to bear all things with

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Itinerary
119
patience, under the eye of our Saviour, who on that day had suffered so
undeserved a death for our sakes. And as the ships were tossed to and fro,
and dispersed divers ways, menÕs stomachs began to feel a qualm, and
were affected by a violent nausea; and this feeling of sickness made them
almost insensible to the dangers around; but towards evening, it grew by
degrees calm, and the fury of the winds and waves abated. A favourable
wind now springing up, according to our wishes, and the sailors having
recovered their strength and confidence, we strove to keep a direct course
for our voyage. King Richard, unmoved amid this state of confusion, never
ceased to animate those who were dispirited, and bid them take courage,
and hope for better fortune; moreover he had as usual a very large wax-
light in a lantern, hoisted aloft in his ship to give light to the rest of the fleet
and direct them in their way. He had on board most experienced sailors,
who did every thing which human art could do to oppose the fury of the
winds. All, therefore, as far as they could, followed the light burning in the
kingÕs ship. The king remained stationary some time to collect his fleet,
which congregated together by seeing the light, so that the king resembled
a hen gathering together her chickens. After that, we started with a
favourable wind, and sailed along, without obstacle or injury, on the
Saturday of the Passover, as well as on the day of the festival, and until the
following Wednesday. That day we came in sight of Crete, where the king
put in to repose and collect his fleet. When the ships had come together,
twenty-five were found missing, at which the king was much grieved.
Among the steep mountains of this island of Crete, is one raised above the
others, like a lofty summit, which is called the Camel, which sailors
acquainted with those seas say is exactly midway between Messina in
Sicily, and Acre in Palestine. On the morrow, being Thursday, the king and
all his army entered their ships; when the wind began to rise stronger, and
though favourable, was very vehement in impelling us forward, for we
moved rapidly along, with sails swelled out and mast slightly bent, not
unlike the flight of birds. The wind, which slackened not all night, at dawn
of day drove our fleet violently upon the island of Rhodes: there was no
port, and the surf stretched along the shore; however, we enjoyed there our
rest the better for having wished for it so earnestly, from that day until the

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