Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis; together with the English translations of John Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century.

Capitulum vicesimum septimum.

BUT at the laste, in the yere of oure Lorde God a M. c. xcj., the v^the idus of Iulius, and the xxx. day after the commynge of kynge Richarde, the cite of Acon was geten by Cristen men. In the takynge of this cite the duke of Austry folowede kynge Richarde, that he myȝhte chalange peraventure parte of the victory. But the baner of the seide duke was troden under foote; y wotte not the trawthe wheþer hit was doen by chaunce or by the wylle of the kynge. That duke havynge indignacion þerof departede to his cuntre, thenkynge to venge hym on [folio 368a] kynge Richard. The goodes geten there departede betwene the kynges of Ynglonde and off Fraunce, the kynge of Fraunce solde his prisoners, and kynge Richard did honge his

prisoners. After that Conradus Marchio sleyne by ij. wikkede men in this cite of Tirus, the kynge of Fraunce havynge in|dignacion of the glory of Richarde kynge of Ynglonde, thouȝhte to impute the dethe of that kynge to hym. Where|fore the kynge of Fraunce, kepynge a cownsaile at Parisius, thouȝhte to trowble kynge Richard in his returnynge to Ynglonde. Neverthelesse the noblemen of his realme movede hym that he scholde not schewe vengeaunce to kynge Richarde thauȝhe he had sleyne hym, seyenge that hit were worschippe to suffre hym to comme to his cuntre, that wente so ferre to fiȝhte for the luffe of Criste. That doen, if he cowthe purge hym þerof, or make satisfaccion if he hade putte hym to dethe, hit were sufficiaunte; and if he despisede to do that oon of these tweyne thynges, other to purge hym of that cryme, or if he putte hym to dethe and wolde not do satisfaccion, then we cownesaile that the extreme vengeaunce that ye maye do may be exercisede on hym. But thauȝhe the kynge of Fraunce

was stylle as for a season, he thouȝhte to have vexede soore the realme of Ynglonde, for he sende to the kynge of Den|marke desyrenge the maryage of his suster, in this condicion, that he wolde grawnte to hym in the name of the dowery the olde ryȝhte that the Danes hade in the realme of Ynglonde somme tyme, and a navy of schippes with an hoste by oon yere. But the kynge of Denmarke myȝhte [not] [Evidently omitted by an error of the scribe.] satisfye his purpose in that he hade grete werre ageyne the Wandalynges. Neverthelesse the kynge of Fraunce receyvede with that lady x. M^l marke of silvyr, whom the kynge of Fraunce refused, after the firste nyȝhte, other in that sche hade a stynkynge brethe, or ells in that he founde sche was not a mayde. The noble prince Richarde kynge of Ynglonde beynge in the este partes off the worlde, and treasure begynnynge to decrease faste, remembrenge also his wikkede diffamacion caused by the [folio 368b] kynge of Fraunce, seyenge that kynge Ricardus hade intended his dethe, that he hade hired also ij. men to slee Conradus Marchio kynge of Tirus, and how he scholde have hade pro|misse of the Saladyn of the promission of the holy Londe,

and þerfore he wolde not comme to the takynge of the holy cite of Achon, disposede hym to departe towarde Yngelonde, ffor a grete parte of the hoste of Cristen peple was gretely decreasede. Neverthelesse y suppose that men dyenge þer were moore happy then men on lyve goynge home and re|turnynge to theire synnes. Also hit behovethe the hooly cite of Ierusalem to be kepede and rejoycede of oure enemyes for a season, for the synne and wrecchidnesse of Cristen people, whiche tyme God knowethe. For withowte dowte, that tyme when that synnefulle peple schalle be avoidede from that holy Londe, and peraventure by a lytelle powere of Cristen peple, þat the expulsion of theym may be ascribede moore to the vertu off God then to the powere of man. For oon of the

Machabees seide that mony men myȝhte be devicte by fewe men, which, seyenge was verifiede when oon man pursuede a M., and xij. men mony thowsandes. But God is not to be attemptede in this wise, that fewe Cristen men scholde ȝiffe conflicte ageyne mony enemyes of Criste indiscretely, in that they have a goode Lorde, ffor God wyllethe his peple to truste soe in hym that they despise not to do after prudence.