A.D . 1194.] TOURNAMENTS IN ENGLAND. English pursued him, and captured all his teams as well as those of the counts and barons lighting under him, and all their baggage; he also took gold and silver, crossbows and tents, and other things innumerable, and brought them away with him. lie in this way crossed into Foietoti, and within a few days liuti reduced to submission the castle of Tailclmrc and the country of his adversaries, namely, the count of Angoulcmc, and Geoffroy de Ravenne, so that there did not exist a single rebel against him from the castle of Verneuil to Charlccroix. How the French king endeavoured to impose on king Richard. About this time the French king sent four messengers to the king of the English, deceitfully making use of friendly speeches, to propose, that, in older to save the subjects of each, whose coffers they in their wars had emptied of gold ami silver and to spare the effusion of the noble blood of each kingdom, the claims of both should be determined by a combat of five men on each side, the chief's of each kingdom to await the issue of the combat, until after it was over they could adjudge what ought by right to fall to each king. This proposal pleased the English king beyond measure, provided that the French king should be the fifth man on bis side ; and he, the English king, likewise be the fifth on the English side, and that they should preserve an equality in men and arms, and engage with equal odds; this the king of the French to the scorn of many refused to agree to.* After this on the mediation of some religious men a truce was agreed on between the French and English kings, but •ill intercourse of traders was forbidden on both sides. How king Richard established tournaments throughout l:\igfund. At this time king Richard crossed to England and appointed tournaments to be held in certain pinces, being induced to do so perhaps for this reason, that the soldiers of the kingdom might meet from all quarters and prove their * "Til's year n!so, Robert ear! of Leicester was taken prisoner by ihe king of France nnd the count de Perche. Henry Marsha., also, brother of William Marshal the elder, was made bishop of Kxcter."—Matthew Paris.