10(1 ItUUKit OF WENDOVF.R. [Λ .». ΙΠΠ. hundred were beheaded, only a few of the most noble were saved and placed in prison at the disposal of the kings. How the French king through envy returned to his oicn country. After the eity was subdued, the king of the French made arrangements to return home, as though the war was entirely an end; for he was annoyed beyond measure at all the credit of the success of the Christian army being given to king Richard. Pleading, therefore, want of money and poverty as his excuses, he said he could not stay there any longer ; but the English king Richard, who had a burning desire to promote the cause of the crusade, on hearing this, promised that he would supply the king of the French with a shire of all he possessed, in money as well as in his supplies of provisions, horses, arms, and ships, in order that they might unitedly endeavour to drive the enemies of Christ from tin Holy Land. Hut in as much as the French king bad sworn to return, and determinately arranged for it, notwithstanding that his followers loudly exclaimed against it, and the whole arni)- was greatly excited ; he embarked to return to his country with only a few in his company. Moreover there had arisen between the two kings a secret disagreement, so that the king of France proposed to deliver the city of Acre, and the other cities, castles, and districts, which they might take, to the marquis of Montferrat, and to appoint him king of the Holy Land; for this same marquis had married the daughter of king Ahneric, sister of the queen of Jerusalem, who was lately deceased. King Richard was throughout opposed to this wish, and plainly proved that it would be more consistent with right to restore to king (!uy his kingdom, of which he had been some while since deprived, than to appoint another whilst he yet lived; since it appeared that he had lost his sovereignty, not through his own indolence, but that, through bis boldness in a fierce war, owing to the number of his enemies, and the weakness of his own army, he had been taken at the same time as the cross by the Saracens. This is known to have been the original cause of discord between the before-named princes, although a difference had sprung up in the first place, though concealed, at Messina in Sicily, when king Richard bad obtained possession of the city with an armed force, and destroyed many of