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notice before the king of France should proceed to obtain redress. The king
of France took the oath which was required faithfully to observe all these
conditions, and gave the duke of Burgundy and Count Henry as hostages,
and five or more others, whose names are lost.
How faithfully he stood to
his covenant and oath is very well known to all the world; for he had no
sooner reached his own country, than he set it in commotion and threw
Normandy into confusion. What need we say more? The king of France,
having taken leave, retired from his army at Acre, and instead of blessings,
he received wishes of misfortune and execrations from all.
Chapter XXIII. Ñ
How, on the king of France retiring with his hostages and the
Marquis to Tyre, the duke of Burgundy and many others of the French remained
with King Richard.
On St. PeterÕs day the king of France embarked and sailed for Tyre,
but he left the greater part of his army with King Richard; and with him he
took that infamous marquis and Caracois and the other hostages that had
fallen to his lot; and he reckoned that he would receive for their ransom a
hundred thousand
aurei or more, which would support his army till Easter.
But on the term expiring for ransoming the hostages, the Turks paid no
attention to it, and most of them perished: for it
was very evident that they
would not give an egg or a farthing to release them: and by their means
nothing at all was gained, nor any portion of provisions found in the city;
which caused the French to remember the more frequently that they
received no other remuneration from the king of France. On this account
there arose frequent wrangling and murmuring amongst them, until King
Richard, at the request of the duke of Burgundy, lent him, over and above
his hostages, five thousand marks of silver to support his men.
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162
Book IV.
Chapter I. Ñ
How King Richard bestows gifts on his soldiers, and repairs the
walls of Acre.
King Richard, therefore, perceiving that the consummation of the
business and the progress of affairs, together with the labour and expense,
devolved upon him chiefly, made most ample largesses of gold and silver
to the French and to all the others of every nation, by means of which they
might abundantly recruit themselves and
redeem what they had put in
pledge. On the king of France returning home with haste as aforesaid, King
Richard turned his attention to the repair of the walls to a greater height
and perfection than before they were thrown down; and he himself walked
about, exhorting the workmen and masons, as if his whole intention was to
strive for the recovery of GodÕs inheritance.
Chapter II. Ñ
How Saladin stood not to his covenant for restoring our LordÕs
cross, and paying the money; and neglected his men, who were hostages.
He therefore awaited the term which had been agreed upon between
the
Turks and himself as aforesaid, and turned his attention to the packing
up of the petraria¾ and mangonels for transportation. For when the time
had expired which had been fixed by the Turks for the restoration of the
cross and the ransom of the hostages, after waiting three weeks, according
to the conditions, to see if Saladin would stand to his word and covenant,
the king looked upon him as a transgressor, as
Saladin appeared to have no
care about it; and perhaps this was by the dispensation of God, that
something more advantageous might be obtained. But the Saracens asked
further time to fulfil their promise and make search for the cross. Then you
might hear the Christians inquiring for news, and when the cross was
coming? but God was unwilling that it should be restored for those by
whom it was promised, but preferred rather that they should perish. One
would exclaim, ÒThe cross is coming!Ó another, that he had seen it in the
Saracen army;
but each speaker was deceived, for Saladin had not taken