The History of the Holy War, Book 3 · Chapter 6
Chap. 6. Richard of England and Philip of France set forward to the Holy land; The danger of the interveiws of Princes.
THe miseries of the Christians in Syria being reported in Europe, made Richard the first, King of England, and Philip the second surnamed Augustus, King of France, to make up all private dissensions betwixt them, and to unite their forces against the Turks.
Richard was well stored with men, the bones; and quickly got money, the sinews of warre; by a thousand Princely skills gathering so much coin as if he meant not to return, because looking back would unbowe his resolution. To Hugh Bishop of Duresme, for his life, he sold the County of Northumberland; *Matthew Paris, Rich. 1. pag. 207.jesting he had made a new Earl of an old Bishop: He sold Barwick and Roxburgh to the Scottish king for ten thousand pounds: Yea, he protested he would sell his citie of *Martinus, in Richardo 1.London (if any were able to buy it) rather then he would be burdensome to his subjects for money. But take this as he spake it, for a flourish: for pretending he had lost his old, he made a new seal, wherewith he squeezed his subjects, and left a deep impression in their purses; forcing them to have all their *Speed, in Richard the first.instruments new-sealed, which any wayes concerned the Crown.
Having now provided for himself, he forgot not his younger brother John Earl of Morton, who was to stay behind him; an active man, who if he misliked the maintenance was cut for him, would make bold to carve for himself: Lest therefore straitned for means he should swell into discontent, King Richard gave him many Earldomes and honours, to the yearly value of foure thousand marks. Thus he received the golden saddle, but none of the bridle of the Common-wealth: honour & riches were heaped upon him, but no place of trust and command. For the King deputed William Bishop of Ely his Viceroy; choosing him for that place rather then any lay-Earl, because a Coronet perchance may swell into a Crown, but never a Mitre: For a Clergie-mans calling made him uncapable of usurpation in his own person.
Thus having settled matters at home, he set forth with many of our nation; which either ushered or followed him. Of these the prime were, Baldwine Archbishop of Canterbury, Hubert Bishop of Salisburie, Robert Earl of Leicester, Ralph de Glanvile late chief Justice of England, Richard de Clare, Walter de Kime, &c. The Bishops of Duresme and Norwich, though they had vowed this voyage, were dispensed with by the court of Rome (*Matthew Paris, in Richardo 1o, pag. 207. quae nulli deest pecuniam largienti) to stay at home. His navie he sent about by Spain, and with a competent number took his own journey through France.
At Tours he took his Pilgrimes scrip and staff from the Archbishop. His staff at the same time *Roger Hoveden, in Richardo 1o, pag. 666.casually brake in pieces; which some (whose dexteritie lay in sinister interpreting all accidents) construed a token of ill successe. Likewise, when he and the French king with their trains passed over the bridge of Lyons, *Idem, ibidem.on the fall of the bridge this conceit was built, That there would be a falling out betwixt these two Kings; which accordingly came to passe, their intercourse and familiaritie breeding hatred and discontent betwixt them.
Yea, the interviews of equall Princes have ever been observed dangerous. Now Princes measure their equalitie not by the extent of their dominions, but by the absolutenesse of their power; so that he that is supreme and independent in his own countrey, counteth himself equall to any other Prince how great soever. Perchance some youthfull Kings may disport and solace themselves one in anothers companie, whilest as yet pleasure is all the elevation of their souls: But when once they grow sensible of their own greatnesse, (a lesson they will quickly learn, and shall never want teachers) then emulation will be betwixt them: because at their meeting they cannot so go in equipage, but one will still be the foremost: Either his person will be more proper, or carriage more court-like, or attendance more accomplished, or attire more fashionable, or some thing will either be or conceived to be more majesticall in one then the other: And corrivalls in honour count themselves eclipsed by every beam of state which shineth from their competitour. Wherefore the best way to keep great Princes together, is to keep them asunder, accommodating their businesse by Embassadours, lest the meeting of their own persons part their affections.