A.D. 1191. THE KING OF ENGLAND PROCEEDS TO CATANIA. 193 many that not one of his predecessors had ever given so much in a •whole year, as he gave away in that month. And cer tainly we have reason to believe that by this munificence he gained the favour of Him who sends his thunders, as it is written : " God loveth a cheerful giver."1 5 In the same month of February, the king of England sent his galleys to Naples, to meet queen Eleanor his mother, and Berengaria, daughter of Sancho, king of Navarre, whom he was about to marry, and PhiBp, earl of Flanders, who was coming with them. However, the king's mother and the daughter of the king of Navarre went on to Brindisi, where Margarite, the admiral, and other subjects-of king Tancred, received them with due honor, and showed them aB consideration and respect. The earl of Flanders, however, came to Naples, and finding there the galleys of the king of England, embarked in them and came to Messina, and in many matters followed the advice and wishes of the king of England ; at which the king of France being enraged, prevailed upon the earl to leave the king of England and return to him. In the mean time, a serious difference happened in England between the king's chanceBor and John, earl of Mortaigne, the king's brother, and the other principal men of the kingdom; which increased to such a pitch that they aB wrote to the king relative to the state of his kingdom, and the excesses that the said chanceBor was guBty of toward the people of his kingdom. Accordingly, when the king heard of the excesses and annoyances that the chanceBor was guBty of towards his people, he sent to England from Messina, Walter, archbishop of Bouen, and WilBam Marshal, earl of StriguB, with commands to the chanceBor that in aB business of the kingdom he should have the said archbishop of Eouen, and William Marshal, Geoffrey FitzPeter, AVBliam Bruere, and Hugh Bardolph, as his associates and witnesses. On their arrival in England, these persons did not dare deBver their letters to the chanceBor, fearing lest they should rather incur his hatred, than derive honor therefrom. For the chanceHor set at nought aB the king's commands, and would have no one an equal with himself, or any associate in the kingdom. On the first day of the month of March, Bichard, king of England, left Messina, and proceeded thence to the city of Catania (where rests the most holy body of Saint Agatha the 1 5 I Cor. ix. 7. VOL. II.