A.D. 1194. LIBERATION OF RICHARD, KING OF ENGLAND. 311 he was a liegeman of earl John, and, therefore, declined to he a hostage for him ; at which the king being incensed, ordered him to be seized and thrown into prison, which was accordingly done. On the same day on which the king was set at liberty from the custody of the emperor, he sent one Salt de Bruii, as his messenger, to his nephew, Henry, count of Champagne, in Sulia, and the other Christian princes, informing them of the day of his liberation ; and that, if God should grant him vengeance against his enemies, and peace, he would come by the time appointed to succour them against the pagans. He also promised to the said Salt de Bruii that he would give him lands to the value of forty pounds on his return from the land of Sulia. On the same day, the king, by his letters, summoned Hugh, bishop of Coventry, to appear in his court, and to take his trial before the bishops, because he himself was a bishop, and before certain laymen, because he held under him a layman's office, upon the charges that were made against him. On the same day, the emperor of the Romans, and the archbishops, bishops, dukes, and counts of the empire, joining in a letter in common, and appending their seals thereto, sent word to the king of France and to earl John, immediately upon sight of the said letter to restore to the king of England the castles, cities, fortresses, towns, lands, and all other things which they had taken from him, while he had been in the custody of the emperor ; and, unless they did so, they were to know for certain that they would aid the king of England to the utmost of their power, in recovering everything that he had lost. After this, the king of England made promise of, and by his charters confirmed, to certain archbishops, bishops, dukes, and counts, and many of the barons of the empire, yearly revenues, for their homage and fealty, and aid against the king of France. He accordingly received the homage of the archbishop of Mentz, the archbishop of Cologne, the bishop of Liege, the duke of Austria, the duke of Louvain, the marquis of Montferrat, the duke of Nemburg,8 the duke of Suabia, the brother of the emperor, the count Palatine of the Rhine, the son of the count of Hainault, the count of Holland, and many others, saving always their fealty to the emperor. It ought also to be known that the king of England was in captivity with the emperor during a period of one year, sis weeks, and three days. * Probably meaning Mecklenburgh.