Medulla historiæ Anglicanæ being a comprehensive history of the lives and reigns of the monarchs of England from the time of the invasion thereof by Jvlivs Cæsar to this present year 1679 : with an abstract of the lives of the Roman emperors commanding in Britain, and the habits of the ancient Britains : to which is added a list of the names of the Honourable the House of Commons now sitting, and His Majesties Most Honourable Privy Council, &c.

RICHARD I.

* 1.1RICHARD from his exceeding valour sirnamed Ceur de Lion, was Crowned at Westminster by Baldwin Archbishop of Canter∣bury. At which time a great number of the Jews, were in a tumultuous sort, slaughtered by the common people, for which many of them suffered death. The Coronation rights performed, Richard with all speed prepares for his voyage into the Holy-Land, appointing William Longchamp Bishop of Ely his chief Ju∣sticiar, and Lord Chancellor, joyning with him Hugh Bishop of Durham for the parts beyond Humber, associating to those Bishops, divers temporal Lords for the defence and preservation of Justice. And with the King of Scots he concluded firm friendship. Which done, with a royal Navy he put out to Sea, and by the way to the Holy-Land, he seized on the Island Cyprus, where he solemnly took to Wife his beloved Lady Berengaria. The Island he committed to the keeping of his own De∣puties, permitting the Islanders to injoy all such Laws and Liberties, as they held in the time of Immanuel the Emperor. Furder in his way he conquered a mighty Argosey, called a Dromond, wherein were a-Board a Thou∣sand five hundred Saracens (disguised under French-Flags) furnished, besides all other pro∣visions, with Fire-works, Barrels or Cages of

venomous Serpents, for the use of the Sara∣zens at Ptolemais, since called Acon. Of the Sarazens he killed and drowned 1300, and then sailed safely to Acon. Before which lay these Christian Nations, the Genoways and Flo∣rentines, Flemings, Almains, Danes, Dutch, Pisans, Friezlanders, Lombards, and the Eng∣lish under Hubert Bishop of Sarum. Besides the Knights Templers collected out of all Na∣tions, and also the aids of the Asians. The King of France also came to the Siege. Where whilst the Christians lay, Sultan Saladin cut off the heads of 1500 Christian Captives; in revenge whereof, King Richard in sight of Sa∣ladines Host, cut off above 2500 of the heads of Turkish Slaves. The Siege before Acon was so well plyed, (notwithstanding sundry dis∣sensions betwixt King Richard and Philip King of France, the two competitors of glory in this Siege) that the City of Acon was surren∣dred upon Articles. Which done, the French King, envying the English Kings noble exploits, (though contrary to the French mens will) returned into France, having first given Oath to the King of England, that he would well and faithfully keep the Lands and Subjects of King Richard, and neither do damage to them himself, nor suffer others to do it till Richards return. Howbeit whilst Richard was busied in the Holy War, the King of France after his return home, devised how to trouble and endamage his Dominions, but was hindred by his own Nobles▪ In England the Peers

and people were much discontented at the in∣credible insolencies and intolerable tyrannies of the Chancellor, which though K. Richard heard of, yet kept he himself imployed in the War, wherein he performed many Heroic acts. Within sight of Jerusalem he encountred Sala∣dine, slew a great number of his Soldiers, took 3000 Camels, 4000 Horses and Mules, took his Carriage richly laden from Babylon, rescued Joppa, repulsing Saladine from thence. He also assayed to regain Jerusalem; but being in that Enterprize abandoned by the Duke of Bur∣gundy, he was perswaded to accept Saladines of∣fers for a three years Truce. Which having con∣cluded, and setled his affairs in the East, he set sail homeward; where in his passage his ships were scattered by tempest, and driven hither and thither; but he happily gaining the shore, hoped in disguise as a Merchant to have free journeying through Germany. But he being by the way over-free in his expences, became su∣spected for another kind of man than a Mer∣chant; and near to Vienna was discovered, and imprisoned by the Arch-Duke of Austria, un∣der pretence that he was guilty of the death of the Marquess Conrade at Tyre. Then the person of this famous King being thought too great a booty for the Duke, was gained into the Em∣perors hands, whose usage towards him was very cruel, and the ransome required for him most unreasonable, being an Hundred thousand Marks sterling to himself, and Fifty thousand more to himself and the Duke, besides other conditions. All which being yeilded unto, and

ingagement given for the performance,* 1.2 after fifteen Months imprisonment, he was set at liberty, to the great joy of many Princes in those parts, and to the unspeakable joy of his own Subjects in general, though not of his brother John, who, with the King of France ('tis said) were some instruments for the procuring of his unhandsome usage. But Ceur de Lyon (escaping the way-layings of the Emperor, who sent to re-take him after his release) safely Landed at Sandwich, whi∣ther Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury, that had been with him in the Holy-Land, came with a joyful heart to meet him, whom when the K. saw, he dismounted, bowed his knee, then fell upon the earth. In like sort the Bishop lay upon the ground over against him, till at last both of them rising up, ran into each others arms, comforting themselves with mu∣tual embraces and weeping for joy. His Bro∣ther John, who had been false to him, upon his submission he freely forgave, calmly say∣ing unto him, Would that thy fault may so be forgotten of me, as that thy self may keep in memory what thou hast done. And after this the King restored his forfeited possessions to his brother John, who from that time became faithful to him, and did him very noble ser∣vices, especially against the French, with whom Richard then warred. In which wars, this John Earl of Morton, and Markadey Cap∣tain of the Routs, had made an incursion up to Beauvois, where the Bishop (being also a Peer of the Royal Blood) valiantly fighting,

was taken in the skirmish, armed at all points, on whose behalf the Pope wrote somewhat earnestly to K. Richard, to set his very dear Son (for so he called the Bishop) at liberty. The K. in a kind of pleasant earnestness, cau∣sed the Habergeon and Curaces of the Bishop to be presented the Pope, with this question, See, whether this be thy Sons Coat or not? Where∣upon the Pope replied, That he was neither his Son, nor the Son of the Church, and therefore should be ransomed at the Kings pleasure, because he was rather to be judged a Servitor of Mars, than a Soldier of Christ. In this War with the French, the King amongst other victories ob∣tained one of fame; Taking an hundred Knights and Servitors on Horseback, and Footmen without number, Thirty men of Arms, also 200 great Horse, whereof an 140 had Barbs and Caparisons armed with Iron. The King in his own person did most nobly, for with one Spear, he threw to the earth Matthew de Mummerancy, Alan de Rusci, and Fulk de Giservall, and took them. So have we vanquish∣ed the King of France at Gysors, howbeit we have not done it, but God and our right by us, said the King in his Letter to the Bishop of Dur∣ham. But the fatal accident is at hand, which put an end to this renowned Warrior; for the Viscount of Limoges having found a great hoard of Silver and Gold, sent a great part thereof to King Richard, as chief Lord, with which the King being not contented, came with some forces to the Castle of Ch••luz be∣longing to the Viscount, where he supposed

the riches were: The Garrison of which place offered to yield the same to him, and all there∣in, if only their lives and limbs might be sa∣ved; but the King would accept of no condi∣tions, bidding them to defend themselves as they could, for he would enter by the Sword and hang them all. Whereupon an Arbalaster standing upon the Wall, and seeing his time, charged his Steel-bow with a Square-Arrow, making first his Prayer to God, that he would direct that shot, and deliver the innocency of the besieged from oppression; then discharging it, as the King was taking a view of the Castle, mortally wounded him in the left shoulder, the anguish and peril whereof, was extreamly increased by the unskilfulness of the Chyrur∣geon. The Castle by continual assaults was ta∣ken, and by the Kings command none left alive, save this too skilful Archer, who neither de∣nied, nor excused the fact; but alledged the necessity of his case, and the justice of God in it, for that the King, he said, had slain his Father, and two Brothers with his own hands. Yet did the magnanimous King forgive this Ber∣tram de Guidon the fact, gave him an Hundred Shillings, and set him at liberty: but Captain Markadey after the King was dead, took him, flea'd him alive, and then hang'd him. When Ceur de Lyon perceived the certain approach of death, with contrition, confession and par∣ticipation of the Sacrament, he prepared him∣self for another life, and dyed of his wound, April 6, A D. 1199. And according to his command, his Bowels were buried at Charron

amongst the rebellious Poictovins, as those, who had only deserved his worst parts; his heart at Roan, as the City, which for her con∣stant loyalty had merited the same; and his Corps were inhumed at Font-Everard, at the feet of his Father, to whom he had sometime been disobedient. In the first year of his Reign he appointed Henry Fitz Alwin to be Major of London, that honourable City having been for∣merly governed by Portgraves, or Portreves. He caused Money to be coyned, (held in great request for its purity) by the Easterlings a people of Germany, afterwards current Money, and called Sterling, from the Easterlings. When this King was in France, one Fulk a Priest told him, that he kept three Daughters, which if he did not dismiss, they would procure him Gods wrath. Why, Hypocrite, said the King, all the World knows that I never had Child. Yea, said Fulk, you have Three, and their names are Pride, Covetousness, and Le∣chery. Is it so, said the King? You shall see me presently dispose them. The Knights Tem∣plers shall have Pride, the White Monks Co∣vetousness, and the Clergy Lechery; and there have you my three Daughters bestowed amongst you. Now lived Robin Hood an outlawed Noble, and Little John, who with an Hundred stout fel∣lows more, molested all passengers by the way, yet only robbed and made prey of the rich, sel∣ling good pennyworths when they had done.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A.D. 1189
• * 1.2

  Hubert, A.B. Cant.