Microsoft Word richard of holy trinity inp

his forces, first by sea and then by land.

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Itinerary
126
When the king learnt in what danger the shipwrecked men had been,
and how they were plundered of their property, and all that had happened
in the interim, he was exceedingly angry; and on the morrow, being
Monday, he sent two knights to the emperor, to ask satisfaction of him, in a
peaceful manner, for the injuries received, and the money he had
plundered, at his will. The emperor was very indignant at this demand,
and just as though he himself had been the injured man, burst out into
abusive language, saying, ÒPruht, Sire,Ó and declaring he had nothing to
do with a king; boasting, as he did, for the assumption of imperial authority,
and wholly confiding in impunity from Heaven, he acted just as it pleased
him. When the ambassadors brought back his answer the king, irritated at
the emperorÕs arrogance, abusive reply, and the loss his own men had
sustained, shouted out aloud, ÒTo arms!Ó a command his men immediately
obeyed. Therefore the king, having armed himself, proceeded, in the boats
of the ÒEsneckars,Ó with his soldiers, to seize on the port; but the emperor,
with a large army, surrounded it, and resisted their landing, and they
blocked up the entrance to the port with every kind of bar and obstacle,
taking the doors and windows from the houses, casks with hoops, benches
and ladders, and long pieces of wood, placed crosswise; also, bucklers and
shields, old galleys, abandoned vessels, dirty from being laid up, and every
description of utensil, to prevent their coming on shore; Ñ in a word, every
thing portable of wood or stone that could be found in the city of Limozin,
the Griffons piled upon the shore to oppose the assailants. Moreover, the
emperor and his troops marched up and down the beach. Oh! how
splendidly was the emperorÕs host equipped! They had on costly armour,
and very valuable and many-coloured garments, and rode on war-horses
that champed the foaming bit, and beautiful mules; they marched to and
fro, ready for battle, their numberless pennons and gorgeous banners
floating in the breeze, to keep off those that were advancing, or to give
them battle. As our men were endeavouring to reach the shore, they tried
to frighten them by horrible shoutings, like growling dogs, and abused
them as if they had been curs, and told them they were hastening after
what it was impossible to accomplish. They also had some slingers and
archers and five galleys on the shore, well armed, and filled with young

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Itinerary
127
men skilled in sea-fights. Our troops, who were making for the port to
seize upon it, blocked up as it was, seemed no match for the enemy,
because they were exposed in small boats, and were also much fatigued by
long tossing about on the sea, and besides, they were foot soldiers,
burdened with their proper arms; the natives, on the contrary, were in their
own country, and could do every thing at pleasure. So when our men
approached in their boats, in order, they determined on coming to close
quarters to drive off the slingers and archers in the galleys, and against
them our archers and slingers directed their attacks; and the Griffons, after
losing a great many of their men, gave way, for they could not withstand
the brunt of the battle. And when the arrows flew thickly, three or four at a
time leaped out of the galleys into the sea, and dived under water, where
they perished, by knocking against each other in their attempts to seek
refuge in flight. The galleys, therefore, being captured, and our boats come
to shore, our slingers and archers, gaining courage by success, sent a
shower of arrows, like rain, at those who were guarding the landing-place.
The Griffons not able to stand the charge, retreated from the beach to
firmer ground, while their arbalesters and ours kept constantly throwing
darts, so that the sky was darkened, and the calmness of day seemed to
grow into night from the shower of arrows, while the whole city swarmed
with men, and the neighbourhood was filled with a multitude of men
plying their engines. It was a long time doubtful on which side the victory
lay, or which party was superior; for our troops, though they strove with
all their strength, did not make progress. The king, perceiving that his men
were not daring enough to get out of their boats, and make for the shore,
leaped first from his barge into the water, and boldly attacked the Griffons;
and then our soldiers, imitating his example, eagerly sought to put the
enemy to flight; and having made an impression on their troops, forced
them to give way. Then you might see a shower of flying darts, and the
Greeks cut down; and you might hear the murmurs of the combatants, the
groans of the dying, and the yells of the retreating. Then, also, our men in a
body, mowing down the Greeks as they fled in confusion, drove them first
into the city, and from thence to the plains beyond. The king, pushing on in
pursuit of the emperor, found a common horse, upon which he speedily

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