A.D . 1199.] ItlCITARD's EPITAPH. 179 opinion of many, were buried alike the pride and honour of the chivalry of the West ; of his death and burial some one has published the following epitaph. His entrails given to Poictou—Lie buried near to Fort Chains : His hotly lies entombed below—A marble slab at Fonl-Kvraut ; And Neustria thou hast thy part—The unconquerable hero's heart. And thus through cities three are spretiti—The ashes of the mighty dead, Hut this a funeral cannot he—Instead of one this king litis three. Here begins about king John, ami other things that happened at that lime. After the victorious king Kichard had, as has been mentioned, gone the way o f all flesh, John earl of Mortaigne, his brother, honourably retained all those who had served his brother as well as the mercenary knights, promising them large presents ; and forthwith he sent Hubert archbishop of Canterbury, and William Marshal into England, to make his peace there, and to take charge of the. kingdom, together with Geoffrey Fitz-I'eter, who was then justiciary, and other nobles of the kingdom. On their arrival there they made the people swear fealty to earl John, and meeting with Geoffrey Fitz-I'eter they called together all the nobles of whom they had the most doubts; to them they promised that carl John would restore their rights to them all; on which condition then the earls and barons swore fealty to the said earl, in opposition to all others, lint to William king of Scots, they sent word by Eustace de Vesci, that earl John, on his return, would satisfy him for all his rights in England, if in the meantime he would keep faith and peace with the earl ; and thus all strife and contention in England was set at rest. How some of the nobles united themselves to earl John, and others to Arthur. Whilst these events were passing in England, earl John went to Citinoli, where the treasure of the deceased kitiLr was deposited, which John de Turnlinm, who had charge of it. gave up to him with the castles of Saumur and Chimin, ami other fortresses, which had been entrusted to his care ; but Thomas de Furueis, nephew of the said Kobcrt. delivered the city and castle of Anjou, to Arthur count of ltrittauv, and joined the said Arthur. The chiefs of Anjou, Maine, and Tours also adhered to the party of Arthur as their liege lord,