A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



the French King a little before had sent unto him by 

 the Duke of Burgundie, the contents whereof were 

 these : That the King of England was a false Traytour, 

 & would never keepe the peace that was betweene them : 

 and if the sayd Tancredus would warre against him, or 

 secretly by night would invade him, he with all his 

 power would assist him, to the destruction of him and 

 all his armie. To whom Richard the King protested 

 againe, that he was no traytour, nor never had bene : 

 and as touching the peace begun betwixt them, the same 

 should never be broken through him : neither could 

 he beleeve that the French King being his good lord, 

 and his sworne Compartner in that voyage, would utter 

 any such wordes by him. Which when Tancredus heard, 

 he bringeth foorth the letters of the French King, sent 

 to him by the Duke of Burgundie, affirming moreover, 

 that if the Duke of Burgundie would denie the bringing 

 of the said letters, he was readie to trie it with him 

 by any of his Dukes. King Richard receiving the 

 letters, and musing not a little upon the same, returneth 

 againe to Messana. The same day that King Richard 

 departed, the French king came to Tavernium to speake 

 with Tancred, and there abode with him that night, 

 and on the morowe returned to Messana againe. 



From that time King Richard mooved in stomacke 

 against King Philip, never shewed any gentle counten- 

 ance of peace & amitie, as he before was woont : whereat 

 the French king greatly marveiling, and enquiring 

 earnestly what should be the cause thereof, word was 

 sent him againe by Philip earle of Flanders from king 

 Richard, what words he had sent to the king of Sicily, 

 and for testimony thereof the letters were shewed, 

 which he wrote by the duke of Burgundie to the king 

 of Sicily : which when the French king understood, 

 first he held his peace as guilty in his conscience, not 

 knowing well what to answere. At length turning his 

 tale to another matter, he began to quarrell with king 

 Richard, pretending as though he sought causes to 



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