Previous First Next

Geoffrey de Vinsauf
Itinerary of Richard I and others to the Holy Land
page. 99

up, and his ears erect, seemed to be collecting all his strength and fury to receive or make an attack. He did not move from his place when the king shouted; nay, when the king made a circuit round him, he also turned himself in his astonishment round in a circle, and kept in the same place which he had first occupied. The king now making use of his lance for a hunting spear, moved on to pierce him; and the boar, turning a little to one side, prepared to meet him. The animal was of enormous size, and terrible aspect, and the lance which was boldly thrust against his broad breast broke in two, from not being strong enough to bear the pressure of both, as they were closing with each other. The boar, now rendered furious by his wound, rushed with all his might upon the king, who had not an inch of room, or a moment of time to turn away; so putting spurs to his horse, he fairly leapt over the animal unharmed, though the boar tore away the hinder trappings of his horse; but the activity of the latter frustrated the blow; and the part of the lance which was fixed in the animal’s breast prevented him from coining to closer quarters. They then make a simultaneous attack on each other, and the boar made a rapid movement, as if to close with the king; but he, brandishing his sword, smote him with it as he passed, and stunned him with the blow; then wheeled round his horse, and cutting the boar’s sinews, he consigned the animal to the care of his huntsmen.

Chapter XXXII. - Of the capture of some Turks by our men.

On the Tuesday before the feast of St. Philip and St. James, Roger de Glanville set out with his soldiers, from Whitecastle, and passing, in force, before the gates of Jerusalem, intercepted some Saracens, whom he put in chains, and brought back captives. On the following Wednesday, King Richard fell in with some Saracens also, between Whitecastle and Gaza, and slaying some, made prisoners of five of them whom be sent to Ascalon.

Chapter XXXIII. - Likewise of the capture of some Turks by King Richard at Furbia, and by the Templars at Darum.

While the king was passing the night after the day of the blessed apostles St. Philip and St. James with a few followers at Furbia, the Turks, early in the morning, came upon them by surprise, thinking either to capture or destroy them; but the king was the first to leap from his bed, and seizing only his shield and sword, took seven of the Turks captive, and slew four; the rest fled from before him. Afterwards he sent out the Templars and Turcopoles,(22) as far as the fortress of Darum, to explore the country, and they found twenty Saracens, who had come out from the fort, sowing barley; these they seized, and sent to Ascalon

Chapter XXXIV. - How the aforesaid messengers arrived from Tyre, and how, on their announcing the death of the marquis, and the election of Count Henry, King Richard was rejoiced at the said election, and granted the count all he asked for; and how he sent for the French.

In those days, while King Richard was engaged on the plains of Ramula, in pursuit of the flying Turks, the messengers, who had been sent from Tyre, came to him, and informed him of the state of affairs there; of the death of the marquis, and the choice of Count Henry to be his successor; but that the latter would not venture to accept the kingdom

(22)The Turcopoles seem to have been natives of the country, of cross breed between Turks and Christians, they served as light cavalry.

without the king’s consent and advice. King Richard hearing of the death of the marquis, was for a long time silent, with astonishment, at his violent and untimely end; but he was exceedingly rejoiced at the election of his nephew, and the regal honours so solemnly conferred upon him; for he knew that his own people desired it much. "Wherefore," said he, "as the marquis, by the inexorable decrees of fate, has ceased to exist, it is of no use to indulge in sorrow: mourning will avail nothing to the spirit of the departed! I congratulate you on the election of Count Henry; and I am very desirous, if it be the will of God, that he should be invested with the government of the kingdom as soon as we have obtained entire possession of the Holy Land; but concerning his marrying the widow of the marquis, I have no advice to give, for the marquis seized upon her unlawfully while her husband was alive, and committed adultery by his intercourse with her; let Count Henry take the kingdom, and the city of Acre, with all its appurtenances, Tyre and Joppa, and the whole of the land, if it so please God, for ever. Tell him also, in my name, to set out for the campaign as quickly as possible, and bring the French with him; for I purpose to take Darum in spite of all the opposition of the Turks.

Chapter XXXV. - How, on the return of the messenger from King Richard, and their announcing his pleasure, the count was married to the marquis’s widow, to the great joy of all, and how Tyre and other fortresses were given up to the count.

After receiving the instructions of King Richard, the ambassadors

Previous First Next

* * *