BERENGARIA OP NAVARRE, ûmn il Eicjjniìt ijjt /irsi. CHAPTEE I. Berengario1 s marriage with Richard the First negociated—Her descent—Birth— Richard embarks on a crusade to the Holy Land—Joins the King of France—• Arrives at Messina—Releases his sister Joanna from imprisonment—Vengeance on Tancred, King of Sicily—The King of France reaches Sicily—Proceeds on his voyage without Richard—Berengario, travels to Sicily with Quern Fleanora—Is welcomed by Richard and his sister Joanna—Fleanora goes to Rome—Proceeds to England—Berengaria embarks with Richard and Joanna for Palestine—The feet driven by a storm to Cyprus—Richard takes the capital of Cyprus—Berengaria lands, and is married to Richard—The Princess and Fmperor of Cyprus made prisoners—Cyprus conquered—Berengaria and Richard sailfor the Holy Land— Richard takes one of Saladin's ships—Berengaria and Joanna welcomed by King Philip, at Acre—Richard lands in Palestine—Hisdeedsof valour there—The other Christiansjealous of his success—His friendship for Saladin and Melech Adelus, .0 sooner had Richard the Count of Champagne, and their heirs the First encircled wore the royal circlet of Navarre. his brow with the History has not recorded when Berendiadem of England, garia entered the world, hut it appears than his fond mother probable that Richard was captivated by Eleanora proceeded her maidenlycharms about the year 1177, to Navarre, to claim when Henry the Second of England so for him the hand of justly arbitrated the differences between the beautiful Berengaria, the eldest the Kings Sancho and Alphonso, respectdaughter of Sancho the Wise, King of ing the marriage settlement of Beatrice, Navarre, and his consort T'catrice, whose Sancho's Queen, as it was then that father, Àlphonso, was King of CasRichard first visited the court of Navarre. tile. We, therefore, cannot much err in naming Although of Spanish descent, Bercn-llfió as the probable year of her birth. garia of Navarre was a Provencal prinWhilst his mother was in Navarre cess by birth and education. Sancho the successfully negoeiating his marriage, Strong, her only brother, was a skilful Richard set forth on that gigantic crusadpoet and renowned warrior, and from ing expedition, whicli had so long and so his youth the sworn friend of Cœur de fully occupied his mind, and to which he Lion. Tho Princess Blanche, her sister devoted all the treasure he could, by fair —she had but one—became the wife of or foid means, possess himself of. With