ANNALS OF II OGEE DE HOVEDEN. A.D. 1190. of Prance and his people, and all the chief men of the city of Messina, together with the clergy and people, stood on the shore, admiring what they saw and heard respecting the king of England and his might. On his landing, he immediately held an interview with Philip, the king of Prance; after which conference, the king of France, on the same day, immediately, embarked on board of his ships, intending to proceed towards the land of Jerusalem; but after he had got out of harbour, on the same day, the wind shifted, and with sorrow and reluctance he returned to Messina. The king of England, however, proceeded to the house of Reginald de Muhec, where a lodging was prepared for him, in the suburbs of the city, among the vineyards. On the twentyfourth and twenty-fifth days of September the king of England went to the lodging of the king of Prance, to hold a conference with him, and the king of France visited the king of England. In the meantime, Eichard, king of England, sent his envoys to Tancred, king of Sicily, and delivered from his custody his sister, Joanna, the former queen of Sicily. On the twentyeighth day of September the king of England went to meet his sister Joanna, who the same day • arrived at Messina, from Palermo, with some gallies sent by king Tancred. On the twenty-ninth day of September, that is to say, on the day of Saint Michael, the king of France went to the lodgings of the Bister of the king of England, and saw her and offered her his congratulations. On the thirtieth day of September the king of England crossed the river del Faro, and took a place which is extremely well fortified, called Le Baniare, and on the first day of October brought his sister Joanna to that place, and, leaving her there with some knights and a considerable number of men-at-arms, returned to Messina. On the second day of October the king of England took possession of a monastery of the Griffons, a very well fortified place, lying in the middle of the river del Faro, between Messina and Calabria. Having expelled the monks and their servants, he placed in it the provisions which had come from England and his other territories, and garrisoned it with some knights and others. When the citizens of Messina saw that the Icing of England had placed knights and men-at-arms with his sister in the castle of Le Baniare, and had taken possession of the monastery of the Griffons, "they had suspicion of him, believing that he would seize the whole of the island, if he could: consequently they were disposed to be easily excited against him. Ac