The History of the Holy War, Book 3 · Chapter 7
Chap. 7. King Richard conquereth Sicilie and Cyprus in his passage to the Holy land.
AT Lyons these two Kings parted their trains, and went severall wayes into Sicilie. King Richard in his passage, though within fifteen miles of Rome, wanting (forsooth) either devotion or manners, vouchsafed not to give his Holinesse a visit: yea, plainly told *Hoveden, in Rich. 1o, pag. 668. & Matth. Paris. in codem, pag. 213.Octavian Bishop of Ostia the Popes Confessour, that having better objects to bestow his eyes on, he would not stirre a step to see the Pope: Because lately without merciemercy he had simoniacally extorted a masse of money from the Prelates of England. At Messana in Sicilie these two Kings meet again: where to complete King Richards joy, behold his Navie there safely arriving, which with much difficultie and danger had fetched a compasse about Spain.
And now King Richard by his own experience grew sensible of the miseries which merchants and mariners at sea underwent, being alwayes within few inches, often within an hairs breadth of death. Wherefore now touched with remorse of their pitifull case, he resolved to revoke the law of Wracks, as a law so just that it was even unjust. For formerly both in England and Normandie, the *Bracton, lib. 2. cap. 5.Crown was intituled to shipwrackt goods, and the King jure gentium made heir unto them; which otherwise jure naturali were conceived to be in bonis nullius, pertaining to no owner. But now our Richard refused to make advantage of such pitifull accidents, and to strip poore mariners out of those rags of their estates which the merciemercy and modestie of the waves and winds had left them. And therefore on the monethmonth of October, at Messana, in the presence of many Archbishops and Bishops, he for ever *Quietum clamavit Wreck, &c. Roger Hoveden, in Rich. 1o. pag. 678.quitted the claim to Wracks: So that if any man out of the ship cometh alive to the shore, the propertie of the shipwrackt goods is still preserved to the owner. Yea, this grant was so enlarged by our succeeding Kings, that *Sr Ed Coke, vol. 6. fol. 107.if a dogge or a cat escaped alive to land, the goods still remained the owners if he claimed them within a yeare and a day.
Tankred at this time was King of Sicilie; a bastard born: and no wonder, if climbing up to the throne the wrong way, he shaked when he sat down. Besides, he was a Tyrant; both detaining the dowrie and imprisoning the person of Joan wife to William late King of Sicilie, and sister to King Richard. But in what a case was he now, having two such mightie Monarchs come unto him! To keep them out, was above his power; to let them in, against his will. Well he knew it was wofull to lie in the rode where great armies were to passe: For power knoweth no inferiour friend; and the land-lord commonly loseth his rent, sometimes his land, where the tenant is too potent for him.
At last he resolved (how wisely or honestly, let others judge) openly to poise himself indifferent betwixt these two Kings, secretly applying himself to the French: which King Richard quickly discovered; as dissembling goeth not long invisible before a judicious eye.
Mean time the citizens of Messana did the English much wrong, if not by the command▪ with the consent of the King. For though it be unjust to father the base actions of unrulie people on their Prince; yet Tankred not punishing his people for injuring the English, when he might and was required thereunto, did in effect justifie their insolencies, and adopt their deeds to be his. Wherefore King Richard to avenge himself, took Messana by assault, seised on most forts in the Island, demanding satisfaction for all wrongs done to him and his sister. Tankred though dull at first, now pricked with the sword, came off roundly with many thousand ounces of gold; and seeing, as the case stood, his best thrift was to be prodigall, gave to our King what rich conditions soever he demanded.
Worse discords daily encreased betwixt the Kings of France and England; King Richard slighting the King of France his sister, whom he had promised to marrie, and expressing more affection to Beringaria daughter to the King of Navarre. Some Princes interposing themselves in this breach, rather asswaged the pain then removed the maladie: So dangerous are ruptures betwixt great ones, whose affections perchance by the mediation of friends may be brought again to meet, but never to unite and incorporate. King Philip thinking to forestall the market of honour, and take up all for himself, hasted presently to Ptolemais: Richard followed at his leisure, and took Cyprus in his way. Isaac (or Cursac) reigned then in Cyprus; who, under Andronicus the Grecian Emperour (when every factious Noble-man snatched a plank out of that shipwracked Empire) seised on this Island, and there tyrannized as a reputed King. Some falsely conceive him a Pagan: and his faith is suspected, because his charitie was so bad; killing the English that landed there, not having so much man as to pitie a woman, and to suffer the sea-sick Lady Beringaria to come on shore. But King Richard speedily overran the Island, honoured Isaac with the magnificent captivitie of silver fetters; yet giving his daughter libertie and princely usage. The Island he pawned to the Templars for readie money. And because Cyprus by antiquitie was celebrated as the seat of Venus, that so it might prove to him, in the joyous monethmonth of May he solemnly took to wife his beloved Lady Beringaria.