A.n. 1188. THE EARL OF POITOU INVADES FRANCE. 83 Raymond, count of Saint Gilles, Aimar, count of Angoulême, Geoffrey- de Eancon, Geoffrey de Lezivant,81 and nearly all the more powerful men in Poitou, engaged in war, all against the before-named Eichard, and he against all; he, however, was victorious. Among other persons whom he took prisoners in the territory of the count of Saint Gilles, he captured Peter Seillun, by whose advice the before-named count of Saint Gilles had taken some traders of the territory of the earl of Poitou, and had done many injuries to him and his lands. Accordingly, earl Eichard placed this Peter in close confinement and in most rigorous custody. The count of Saint Gilles being able on no terms to ransom him, he set spies throughout his cities and castles, to arrest any persons they could find belongingto the household of the king of England, or of earl Eichard his son ; and it so happened that, a few days after, as Eobert Poer and his brother Ralph, two knights of the household and retinue of our lord the king, were passing through the territories of the count of Saint Gilles, from Saint Jago,82 which they had been visiting on a pilgrimage, the men of the count of Saint Gilles laid hands on them, and carried them in chains to the count ; on which, the count said to them, "Unless Richard, the earl of Poitou, delivers up to me my servant Peter, and sets him at liberty, you shall not escape from my hands." On hearing this, earl Eichard made answer, that he would neither make entreaties or give money for their ransom, inasmuch as the respect due to their character as pilgrims, ought to suffice for their libera tion. Upon this, the king of Prance ordered them to be set at liberty, not for his love or respect for the king of England, or for his son Eichard, but out of respect and esteem for Saint James the Apostle. However, earl Eichard entered the territories of the count of Saint Gilles with a great army, laid it waste with fire and sword, and besieged and took his' castles in the neighbourhood of Toulouse. Upon this, the king of the Pranks, hearing the lamentations of the people of Toulouse, sent his envoys to England to the king of England, to enquire if the mischief which was being done by his son Eichard was being done by his direction, and to demand reparation for the same. To this the king of England made answer, that his son Eiehard had done none of these things by 8 1 Roger of Wendover calls him " de Liziniac." 8 2 Saint Jago of Compostella, in Spain. β 2