The Heart of the Lion Page 8

  ‘I am ready to pay dearly,’ said Tancred.

  ‘You greatly fear the King of England, Tancred, I perceive.’

  ‘They say he is a mighty warrior but not more so than the King of France.’

  ‘Then they lie. There is not a better general in the world than King Richard. There is not a more courageous fighter. On the battlefield he has the strength of ten men and is worth twenty. Perhaps I can vie with him in strategy. Perhaps I can outwit him with words. If you could choose your ally you should choose Richard, but since you cannot, for he is the enemy, you are perforce obliged to try for me.’

  Tancred was bemused. He did not understand the King of France. He fancied he mocked him, but he was in too desperate a position not to seize any chance that came his way.

  ‘I can offer you a fortune in money,’ he said. ‘If you will allow your son Louis to be betrothed to one of my daughters.’

  Philip shook his head sadly. ‘The King of England and I have sworn an oath. We are going together to the Holy Land.’

  Tancred knew then that he could not expect Philip to help him stand against Richard.

  * * *

  The Sicilian people were crowding on to the beaches for on the horizon appeared a wonderful array. The rest of the English fleet was approaching and with it came King Richard.

  Those who had already arrived mingled with the French and told each other that this would be a day of rejoicing.

  Near to land came the ships. The sea was frothy with the motion of the oars and on the decks stood the men, the sun shining on their polished armour; banderols fluttered with the pennants and banners. Never before had the Sicilians seen such a glorious array. Trumpets rang out; those on the shore who had been awaiting the arrival of their leader began to cheer. The French as well as the English expressed their delight that King Richard had arrived safely at Messina.

  Philip, hearing the tumult and seeing the magnificent array of ships off the coast, smiled wryly to compare them with his own fleet. A fair escort, he thought, for the most handsome of kings; and because he longed to see Richard, to take his hands and look up into those ice-blue eyes which could warm on occasions, he went down to the shore to be among those who first greeted him.

  There was a hush among the people as Richard came ashore. He certainly had the bearing of a god. None was as tall as he, none stood so straight, none had those clean cut beautifully modelled features, that brilliantly fair colouring.

  Philip forgot all enmity, all rivalries as he went forward to greet him.

  They embraced not as rival kings but as the dearest friends they were at such moments.

  ‘I feared for you,’ said Philip.

  ‘Did you doubt then that I would come?’

  ‘I knew only major disaster could prevent you. But alas such disasters there can be. See how my own fleet suffered.’

  ‘’Twill not delay you?’

  ‘Nay. I hope to leave at once for Acre ... now you are come.’

  Richard nodded and arm in arm the Kings of France and England left the beach.

  * * *

  Philip accompanied him to the house set among vineyards which belonged to a certain Reginald de Muschet who had felt himself honoured to place it at the King’s disposal.

  ‘So you got there first,’ said Richard. ‘Who would have believed it when I saw you on your sickbed in Genoa!’

  ‘My illness passed as soon as I had seen you, and I set out.’

  ‘Determined to be here first.’

  ‘That I might be here to greet you,’ said Philip with a smile. ‘You look ... magnificent.’

  ‘It has been a long journey. Acre is only fifteen days away. How soon shall we set out?’

  ‘You know what is happening here. You know Tancred is now the King.’

  ‘I had heard he had taken the crown on William’s death. That is an affair for the King of Germany.’

  ‘He has imprisoned your sister.’

  Richard’s face turned pale. ‘For what reason?’

  ‘She has opposed Tancred. He is a usurper, she declares.’

  ‘If he will give me her dowry back, which is what I have come to claim, I should have no quarrel with him. But if he has imprisoned my sister by God he shall free her.’

  ‘I thought that was what you would say, and I trust this matter will not delay your stay in Messina.’

  ‘I shall certainly see that my sister receives her dues,’ said Richard. ‘I will send a message at once to Tancred demanding her release and the return of her dowry. By God’s eyes, if the man does not free her and return her dowry I will take the whole of Sicily from him.’

  ‘Send to him then without delay. I have no doubt that he, trembling, awaits your commands.’

  * * *

  In her apartments in the Palermo palace Joanna knew that great events were on the way. Tancred had come with all speed to Palermo and her guards had suddenly become more respectful.

  From one of the women who were in attendance she heard that the English fleet had arrived at Messina and that the King of France was there with his, which had been considerably battered by the storm. When it seemed that Richard’s arrival was imminent, Tancred had apparently thought it wise to leave Messina for Palermo.

  And Richard would soon be here – the handsome invincible brother. She exulted at the thought. She spent long periods watching from the window expecting to see him riding into Palermo any day.

  It was not long before she received news.

  Early one morning the guards told her that she was to prepare at once for a journey. She was going to Messina and she was free.

  ‘So it would seem that King Richard has arrived,’ she said.

  ‘That is so, my lady,’ was the answer. ‘He is now at Messina and wants you to join him there.’

  With what joy did she ride across the country to Messina. Foolish Tancred, to think he could flout the sister of a man like Richard, of whose power the whole world must be aware.

  Messina lay before her; she sent riders ahead to tell her brother that she would soon be there. She wanted their greeting to be public so that all might recognise his power. The people would know that Tancred had imprisoned her but that Richard only had to appear and she was set free.

  It was as she had planned. There he was riding out to greet her, more magnificent than ever. He embraced her while the people looked on; and then they rode side by side to the villa of the Knights of St John where she would stay until a residence worthy of her rank was made ready for her.

  ‘It is an act of God,’ she said soberly, ‘that you have come at this time. If you had not who knows how long I might have remained Tancred’s prisoner.’

  ‘I should have come to your rescue when I heard.’

  ‘But you might have been in the Holy Land and I a prisoner for a year or more while awaiting your arrival. Suffice it that you have come and I am free and I thank God for my good brother.’

  ‘I have a further score to settle with Tancred. You arrived in Sicily with a good dowry. I want to know what happened to that golden table, the silk tent, the galleys and the golden plate.’

  ‘Tancred has taken them as he has everything that was mine and William’s.’

  ‘My first task was to free you, sister,’ said Richard. ‘My second will be to regain the treasure. Your husband left a legacy to our father and as he is dead I shall claim that. I need all the money and treasure I can lay my hands on for the Holy War.’

  ‘I shall pray for you, Richard.’

  ‘Doubtless we shall need your prayers.’

  ‘The King of France is your ally in this venture?’

  ‘Aye, he is my ally ... I think.’

  ‘You are not sure?’

  ‘There must necessarily it seems be rivalry between kings.’

  ‘I have heard that a great friendship exists between you two.’

  ‘It has its uncertainties,’ he said shortly, and Joanna sensed that he did not wish to speak of it.

  ‘Y
ou will ere long see our mother, I doubt not. She is at this moment in Brindisi with Berengaria, the Princess of Navarre.’

  There were tears in Joanna’s eyes. ‘Forgive my emotion. But a short time ago I was a prisoner and now this is too much joy too suddenly. I have often thought of our mother when she, like myself, was a prisoner. I can sympathise with her more readily now.’

  ‘Her imprisonment is over as yours is.’

  ‘And all thanks to you, Richard. How grateful she must be, as I am.’

  ‘Think not that I should allow my mother and my sister to be ill-treated if there was aught I could do to prevent it.’

  ‘Thank you, Richard. A thousand thanks.’

  ‘Come, let us talk of other things. I will tell you of my adventures.’ He described to her how he had arrived at Marseilles and found his ships not yet there and in great impatience he had gone on without them. Hence the fleet’s arrival at Messina before him. He told her of how he had tried to take the poor man’s hawk and nearly lost his life.

  ‘If you had what would have become of us?’ she cried.

  ‘Oh, I am not so easily disposed of. We have heaven’s blessing on our crusade. I have evidence of this. My sailors have told me that when a great storm blew up off the coast of Spain, they prayed to God and there appeared on the seething waters a vision of St Thomas à Becket of Canterbury. “Have no fear,” he told them, “for God has appointed me guardian of this fleet and if you repent of your past sins and commit no more, you will have a prosperous voyage.” And the men took heart and soon the storm abated and they came safely to Marseilles.’

  ‘God is on your side, Richard.’

  ‘So must He be when we are engaged in his holy war.’

  They had arrived at the house and servants came out to welcome her.

  Having made sure that everything was there for her comfort Richard left for the Villa de Muschet.

  * * *

  The next day Richard called to see his sister and with him he brought the King of France. Philip was clearly impressed by her beauty and charm and they talked long and earnestly together.

  Philip wanted to know where she would go when he and Richard left for Acre. She was not at all sure, she told him, but she was hoping to join her mother.

  This raised a certain awkwardness because Philip would know that Queen Eleanor was with Berengaria and he would wonder how there could be a marriage between Richard and the Princess of Navarre when he was betrothed to his sister Alice.

  Philip knew this but he was determined to be courteous and the unfortunate subject of Alice was allowed to lapse. Joanna would be naturally curious to learn how the matter was to be resolved but she could see that she could not raise it when Philip was present.

  As for Richard he knew that Philip was waiting for the opportune moment to bring up the matter of his betrothal; and then he could be sure that it would be the King who was bargaining and he, Richard, could not hope to escape lightly, nor would Philip allow him to if he could help it – great friends though they were.

  Richard said hastily that he had no intention of leaving Messina until he had settled the matter of Joanna’s dowry.

  ‘Which could delay you for some time,’ Philip pointed out.

  ‘Then delay there must be for I’ll not allow this avaricious fellow to take what is mine.’

  ‘I believe,’ said Philip to Joanna, ‘that your brother cares not if I take Acre without him.’

  ‘You will need my help,’ said Richard, ‘as I shall need yours. We may be assured that the place will be well fortified.’

  ‘If we delay too long the winter will be upon us.’

  ‘Still, I shall not allow Tancred to flout me.’

  Philip shrugged his shoulders. He devoted himself to Joanna and told her about his little son Louis whose welfare gave him so much concern and how his heart was torn between the desire to lead a campaign into the Holy Land and to be at home to govern his kingdom.

  ‘You see,’ he explained, ‘when I planned this crusade my Queen was alive. She was there to care for our son. She was to be my Regent, and now I have lost her.’

  There was a rapport between them. Joanna had so recently lost a beloved husband. She shared his sense of bereavement which was increased as it often was in the case of people in their position by a loss of security.

  They talked together and when the Kings took their leave the attendants were whispering together that the King of France seemed mightily taken with the Queen of Sicily and since he was recently a widower and she a widow, could there be a happy outcome of their meeting?

  * * *

  Settling into his quarters, awaiting the return of the dowry, Richard had discovered that his men were causing a certain amount of discord in Messina. Among the population of Sicily were some of mixed European and Saracen origin; they were a hot-blooded people quickly aroused and ready to fight on the least provocation and they did not like having foreigners on their soil.

  Before he had arrived there had been quarrels between the crusaders and the Sicilian natives. Dissension arose for the most trivial reasons. And when the Sicilians realised that King Richard was making arrogant demands to their King, they became more resentful. In such a situation Richard realised that it would be very easy for the men to get out of control. He was determined that this should not be so.

  He conferred with Philip. He wanted rigorous discipline. The men must fear their leaders but Philip insisted that as the men were away from their homes and the conditions in which they lived must necessarily be trying there should be a certain amount of leniency.

  Richard said that was nonsense and erected a gallows opposite his house.

  ‘Let all men beware how they conduct themselves,’ he decreed. ‘I shall have no mercy on those who offend my laws.’

  People trembled before him. Sicilian babies were frightened by the warning: ‘King Richard will have you if you are not a good child.’ He was called The Lion, and in contrast the French King was given the nickname of The Lamb.

  In spite of Richard’s severity trouble continued to break out. The Sicilians complained that the crusaders seduced their wives and daughters and swaggered about the town as though they owned it.

  Philip thought they should not linger and that while they did so the men would be restive but Richard refused to think of leaving until he had satisfaction from Tancred. He wanted the dowry or its equivalent in money and treasure and he was going to have it or go to war.

  Philip watching the situation shrewdly knew that Eleanor was waiting for the command to come to her son bringing with her Berengaria of Navarre. It was amusing to contemplate how little enthusiasm Richard appeared to have for the marriage. He was far more interested in getting even with Tancred. Of course there was Alice. How was Richard going to break free of the bonds which bound him to Philip’s sister? Philip was well aware that Richard would refuse to marry Alice and he knew why. Who would wish to marry a woman who had been his father’s mistress and borne him a child? But he was affianced to her.

  The amusing angle was that although Richard did not want to marry Alice he did not seem eager to marry Berengaria either.

  The fact was that Richard did not want to marry.

  He would be quite happy to sail away to Acre without Berengaria and ... with Philip.

  * * *

  When Richard received Tancred’s reply to his demand for the return of his sister’s dowry he was filled with rage, for Tancred quite clearly had no intention of returning the treasures.

  ‘He must be taught a lesson,’ cried Richard.

  Philip who had been with him when Tancred’s reply was delivered urged him not to be rash; but Richard was not one to pause when his anger was aroused. Tancred had defied him and was trying to cheat him out of what he considered was his by right. Tancred therefore must be made to understand that he could not flout the King of England.

  Ignoring Philip’s advice, Richard gathered his forces together and took possession of a fort and a m
onastery. The latter he intended to use as a storehouse; but the operation was to bring home to Tancred and the Sicilians that when Richard of England was not treated with the respect to which he was due that was the time to beware.

  Tension was rising. Richard’s crusaders now believed that they were like a conquering army. They swaggered through the market places; there were stories of their forcing their attentions on unwilling women, robbing the Sicilians of their goods and behaving in a manner which was sooner or later going to destroy the peace. They assumed that as they were crusaders on their way to a holy war whatever misdemeanours they were guilty of would be forgiven in the eyes of Heaven because of their cause.

  The Sicilians were not, of a nature to accept this conduct uncomplainingly and it was not long before violence broke out. This began with a trivial incident. A party of crusaders walking through the market place saw a woman selling bread. One of them took one of the loaves and when the woman demanded payment refused it. She tried to snatch the bread from him and several of the stall-holders came to her rescue. In a very short time there was a riot. The citizens gathered together against the intruders and armed with sticks and stones began to fight. The crusaders retaliated and soldiers began marching on the city although they had had no orders to do so.

  When he saw what was happening Richard tried to call a halt to his army, but they were now determined on conquest and even Richard riding among his men found it difficult to call them to order.

  Finally this was achieved but the incensed populace was determined to be revenged and large numbers of them prepared to attack the English camp. Richard placed himself at the head of his troops and drove the people back to the town; but this was not enough for him. These people had dared attempt to menace his soldiers. They must be taught a lesson. He marched into Messina.