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through the emperor of Cyprus.
With what expiation do we deem the Holy Land to have been
punished, or with what scourge smitten, or of what crime guilty, that so
many adversaries should have resisted its succour, whereby assistance
should have been so long deferred? Nay, it began to be believed that the
cause of its redemption being so long delayed was the wickedness of its
defenders; and it is very evident by many proofs that the Divine aid was
withheld in consequence of the iniquity of its inhabitants; whence also it
happened that the excellent soldiers of France, who were looked forward to
as brave allies, were unseasonably taken away in the midst. For why need
we speak of the death of the illustrious emperor of Germany, whose end
sullied the glory of his former reign? or who could relate the grief felt for

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Itinerary
122
the death of the once rich and glorious Henry, king of England? By his
money, the city of Tyre was preserved, and by his wisdom and prudence it
was hoped that the Holy Land would be recovered lastly, what might we
say of the decease of William, king of Sicily, who after he had made all the
necessary preparations for his pilgrimage, and had oftentimes sent the
wished-for aid, was cut off by sudden death, and closed his career? All
these, and many other misfortunes, impeded the recovery of the Holy
Land, and each of them was more than enough to injure the cause. But
there was one thing above all others, we mean that which concerned the
island of Cyprus, from which the land of Jerusalem used annually to gain
no small profit; but now, after shaking off the yoke of subjection, it
disdained to give it any thing, by the direction of the tyrant of the island,
who had usurped the imperial power. Most wicked of all bad men, and
surpassing Judas in treachery, and Guenelon in treason, he wantonly
persecuted all who professed the Christian religion. He was said to be a
friend of Saladin, and it was reported that they had drunk each otherÕs
blood, as a sign and testimony of mutual treaty, as if by the mingling of
blood outwardly, they might become kinsmen in reality. This, too, was
afterwards evident by certain proofs; for the tyrant, gaining confidence by
this step, and setting at nought the subjection which he owed, falsely
usurped the name of emperor, and he was accustomed to seize upon every
one who put into the island of his own accord, or was driven thereto by the
violence of the wind, that he might extract a ransom from the rich, and
force the poor to become slaves. When, therefore, he learnt that a strange
fleet had arrived, he determined, according to his custom, to seize upon all
who were on board, and, having plundered them of their money, to keep
them captives.
Chapter XXX. Ñ Of the shipwreck and misfortune of some of our men,and of
their capture and imprisonment; also of the attack they made and the victory they
gained over the islanders of Cyprus.
On the vigil of St. Mark the Evangelist, a little before sunset, dark
clouds covered the horizon, and the spirit of the storm rushed forth, and

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Itinerary
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the violence of the wind disturbed the waters; some of our ships which had
been dispersed by the shifting of the winds, while attempting to reach the
island of Cyprus before his arrival, were driven by adverse waves and
wind on the rocks; and though the sailors used their utmost efforts to resist
the wind that assailed them, three of the kingÕs ships filled and went to
pieces, and some of those on board were drowned; but some who had by
chance caught hold of the timbers of the ship, were by this means, and not
without the greatest toil, from the tossing of the waves, cast on shore naked
and penniless. Amongst those who were drowned was Roger, surnamed
Malus Catulus, the kingÕs signet-bearer, and the signet was lost. But on the
body being cast on shore by the tide, a man found the signet on him, and
brought it to the army for sale; and thus it was redeemed, and restored to
the king. As to the sailors who were cast on shore, the inhabitants, under
the garb of peace, hailed their coming with joy; and, as if to recruit them,
introduced them into a certain fort close by; and all those who put to shore
in safety, the Griffons stripped of their arms, and conducted to the same
place, asserting that if they entered in arms, they might appear to be spies,
or to have intentions of attacking the island, and they would wait until they
ascertained the will of the emperor. But our nobles compassionating the
shipwrecked men who were detained in custody, sent them clothing and
other necessaries. Also Stephen de Turnham, the kingÕs steward and
treasurer, sent them abundance of provisions, which, as they were brought
to the entrance of the fort for the captives, were plundered by the Griffons
and guards of the city. However they pacified them with specious
language, and did not yet show their enmity openly, but they would not
set them at liberty until the emperor had been informed of what had
happened; meanwhile, they promised with crafty words to supply them
with every thing necessary. They then convened the nobles of the land, and
entered into counsel to keep captive as many of the pilgrims as they could
by stratagem, and then slay them; which when it became known to our
men, they shut themselves up of their own accord in the fort, with the
intention of defending themselves, and some of them were killed by the
natives. Thus, considering that danger really threatened them, they chose
to stand the hazard of a battle, rather than die of starvation by falling into

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