The Heart of the Lion (15 page)

‘He is sporting with the King of France, my lady,’ murmured Philip.

It was a situation which amused him. He had contemplated suggesting a marriage with Richard’s sister Joanna, but let that wait. She was a charming woman, but like Richard, he did not want to think of marriage now.

So they vied with each other to give the better entertainments and there was much to occupy them during the waiting months.

Sometimes Philip was overwhelmed by Richard’s brilliance. There has never been such a general, he thought. Any army he commanded would come to victory simply because he was there. But Richard had his weaknesses and while these saddened Philip as a friend, as a rival King he must be grateful for them. Richard’s impetuosity over the Tancred affair could have caused a great deal of trouble and if Richard had not been such a brilliant commander it might have ended in disaster for the English, even disaster to this crusade. Yes in certain ways he was a weak man and never did he show this weakness more clearly than over the affair of the canes.

On a sparkling February day Richard and some of his knights rode out with the French to engage in a mock battle in the meadows outside Messina. This they did with great verve and Richard as usual showed his skill to such advantage that all agreed he was the greatest warrior of the day.

Riding back to Mate Griffon they passed through the town and there they encountered a peasant leading a donkey which was laden with canes.

Richard stopped him and offered to buy the canes and as the peasant dared not refuse he handed them over.

‘Come,’ he cried. ‘Instead of lances we will use canes.’

His opponent was the French knight, William des Barres, noted for his prowess and a worthy adversary for Richard.

They had soon broken their canes on each other but in doing so William des Barres had torn Richard’s cappa which was a kind of riding hood. Richard had inherited the notorious Plantagenet temper and the thought that this Frenchman had dared to tear his garment infuriated him. Angrily he went into the attack and unseated des Barres but in doing so was thrown from his own horse. One of his men immediately brought forward another horse for him but his fury affected his judgement and it seemed that des Barres would have to be declared the victor. To be beaten by a Frenchman who had had the temerity to tear his cappa was too much for Richard. He lay about him furiously at the same time shouting abuse at the Frenchman. Had des Barres been one of his own knights doubtless he would have considered it expedient to allow himself to be beaten. Not so the Frenchman. He continued to fight with all his skill and vigour and for once Richard was in danger of defeat. One of his men came hurrying to his rescue which only angered him the more.

‘Let be, let be!’ he cried. ‘Do you think I am incapable of settling this Frenchman? I will kill him ere I have finished with him.’

What had begun as play was becoming serious. French and English knights looked on in dismay. Richard was hot with rage, des Barres cool with the determination not to give way simply because he had offended the dignity of the King of England.

It was obvious that Richard was not going to succeed in overthrowing des Barres. His cane was broken and he threw it away from him.

‘Get from my sight,’ he shouted. ‘I never want to see you again. I see you are an enemy of mine and as such I shall regard you.’

Alarmed, des Barres went to Philip and told him what had happened.

‘I believe, my lord,’ he said, ‘that Richard has it in his heart to kill me.’

‘’Tis that hot temper,’ replied Philip. ‘His father had it. With him it was worse than with Richard. He would lie on the floor and gnaw the rushes and often came near to doing himself an injury when these rages were on him. I have seen the King of England possessed with this wild anger on one or two occasions. Though fortunately for him these spells of rage are less frequent than they were with his father. Leave this matter to me, I will speak with him. Have no fear; it will pass.’

When they were next together Philip mentioned the matter to Richard.

‘I hear you are angry with one of my knights.’

‘William des Barres insulted me.’

‘He meant it not. It was an accident. You sported with him and your garment was torn.’

‘He did it on purpose. It was my cappa that was torn. He was going for my face with the cane. He hoped to put out my eyes.’

‘So that was what you thought.’

‘Indeed it was so. I will show you the cappa. He was clearly aiming for my eyes.’

‘He is contrite.’

‘So well he may be. He will regret this.’

‘Richard, it was an accident and it happened in sport. Take it as such.’

‘Nothing will induce me to receive that man. He had better keep from my sight.’

‘You whipped up your anger against him. You know you do this now and then. It’s not good, Richard.’

‘Oh, and who are you to criticise me?’

‘Your sovereign lord, my lord Duke of Normandy.’

‘You are fond of reminding me of that.’

‘I find it necessary from time to time.’

‘One of these days . . .’

‘Yes, Richard, one of these days you will try to take France from me so that you do not have to acknowledge me as your sovereign lord.’

‘How could that be? Moreover I prefer to think of myself as the King of England.’

‘King of England, the King of France, who loves you, warns you to guard your temper. You inherited it from your father. He was a great King but he would have been a greater one without that temper. Forget this trouble with des Barres.’

‘I shall never forget it. Let the man keep out of my path.’

‘I will see that he does that until you are yourself again. We want no more trouble. Methinks we have been too long in this place. We should have left earlier and so should we but for your quarrel with Tancred.’

‘We shall start for Acre as soon as the spring comes.’

‘Do you plan to take Tancred with you?’

‘Tancred! What gives you such ideas?’

‘I thought you had become very friendly with him.’

‘We have made an agreement.’

‘To marry your nephew to his daughter. I thought your attitude towards him had undergone an abrupt change.’

‘He’s a reasonable enough fellow.’

‘When he knows himself beaten, yes.’

‘Philip, are you jealous of Tancred?’

‘Perhaps . . . a little.’

Richard laughed loudly. His good spirits were considerably restored and he seemed to have forgotten the ire which the des Barres incident had aroused in him.

Tancred was indeed determined to court Richard’s good will. His position was dangerous. King Henry of Germany, husband of Constancia, was naturally incensed at the truce between Tancred and Richard, and, as Henry was shortly to be crowned Emperor, he would be more powerful than he was before. Richard’s sister Joanna had supported Constancia’s claim and had been imprisoned for it. Her brother had understandably rescued her from that indignity but it had not been expected that Richard would call a truce with Tancred. Henry now regarded Richard as his enemy. Philip was aware of this and that was why he had shrewdly kept out of the quarrel. He knew that when one embarked on a crusade one needed all the friends one could muster. It could never be certain what an army might encounter on its journey, and it was foolish to make enemies.

Richard did not consider such matters. Tancred had paid him well and the quarrel with Henry of Germany was not his affair, but a matter between Tancred and Henry.

Tancred, however, fully aware of Richard’s prowess as all must be who had seen him in action, was eager to have him as his ally and because of this he invited Richard to pay a state visit to him at the Sicilian court which was now at Catania.

It was on the first day of March when Richard set out. He was certain that it would not be long before he would leave for Acre and was debating with himself what was to be done about Berengaria. When he approached the town Tancred rode out to meet him and he had arranged that everything should be done to make him aware of how welcome he was. Tancred embraced him, tears of emotion in his eyes, and they went side by side into the palace, where a lavish entertainment was carried out for his pleasure and the banquet was sumptuous. Richard was delighted.

The following day Tancred took him to the shrine of St Agatha for which Catania was noted and they both prayed for the success of the crusade. Tancred told Richard how at all times of the year pilgrims came to the shrine and there was very good evidence that their prayers were answered.

Richard’s visit lasted three days and on the last of these Tancred displayed rich treasure which he said he wished to present to him. There were gold and silver ornaments set with sparkling gems, but Richard said: ‘My friend, I cannot take these rich gifts from you.’ He selected a simple ring which he put on his finger. ‘This only will I take as a token of the love between us.’

All the company professed to be profoundly moved and Richard then said that he would give to Tancred one of his most prized possessions. This was the famous sword known as Caliburne, which was said to have belonged to King Arthur and to have magical qualities. Richard knew this was not the case. The sword was a fine one but the magic was lacking; if it had been he would not have been so foolish as to give it away when he was on an expedition to destroy the Saracens. But the legend attached to it gave it great value and Tancred kissed it and told Richard that he could not accept it unless he was allowed to give something to the King of England of more value than the ring he had chosen.

Richard could not help thinking that had Philip been present he would have laughed wryly to see the two Kings who had such a short time ago been wrangling over Joanna’s dowry now bestowing valuable gifts on each other.

The outcome was that Richard received from Tancred four large ships and fifteen galleys which would be of great value to him in his campaign.

When Richard prepared to leave Catania for Messina, Tancred said that he could not bear the meeting to be so brief and he was going to ride some of the way with Richard in order to have the extended pleasure of his company.

As they rode side by side Tancred urged Richard to ride ahead of the cavalcade with him for he had something very secret to say to him.

‘I shall tell you this in great confidence,’ he said. ‘It has caused me much heart searching but since we have sworn such friendship I feel I must speak to you of it.’

‘Please tell me what this is,’ begged Richard.

‘It concerns the King of France.’

‘In what way?’ demanded Richard.

‘I know that there exists great friendship between you, but how deep does that friendship go?’

‘What are you trying to tell me?’

‘To beware of the King of France.’

‘You are thinking that naturally we must be enemies. It is not so.’

‘I believe it to be so,’ said Tancred. ‘At least Philip is your enemy.’

‘That cannot be.’

‘I know that it is.’

‘Philip and I have been friends in the past. We have sworn to support each other during this crusade.’

‘You, who are of a direct and honest nature, cannot understand the devious ways of others. Philip seeks always his own advantage; he wants to see France supreme. Every French King since the Normans arrived in France has sought to drive them out and bring Normandy back to the French crown. Is that not so?’

‘It is indeed.’

‘Do you think Philip – one of the slyest of them all – is any exception?’

‘I know that he is determined to defend his country as any good king should be.’

‘And in doing so he will attempt to destroy all those who, he thinks, are its enemies. You, my lord King, are one of those.’

‘I understand your meaning. We are rivals and must be by nature of our position, but on this crusade we are as one. Our interests are the same; we have one motive: to drive the Infidel from the Holy Land.’

‘I can see there is only one way to convince you. Philip has tried to assure me that you are my enemy. He says that you will not keep the peace, that you are waiting for the moment when you can conveniently attack me and take the whole of Sicily.’

‘This is nonsense,’ cried Richard. ‘I am engaged on a crusade. I have no time for conquests on the way.’

‘This is what he has told me and he has assured me that if I will give the order for my troops to attack the English in the night, the French will come to our aid.’

‘This is perfidy.’

‘And you are my friend, that is why I warn you.’

‘I cannot believe this of Philip.’

‘He is clever and has managed to deceive you.’

‘He could not so far deceive me.’

‘Then I see you want proof. I can give you this. I have with me a letter which he has written to me. If you will read it you will see that I have not lied to you.’

‘Show me this letter.’

‘When we rest for the night I will have it brought to you.’

As soon as they came to the castle where they were staying for the night, Tancred produced the letter. Richard read and the blood rushed to his face. It appeared to be in Philip’s handwriting and it was as Tancred had said. A wild rage possessed him. He wanted to go to Philip and challenge him to combat. Philip would have little chance against him. He would kill Philip . . . if he had indeed written this letter.