to folow the kyng, and to contribute to his iorney. MarginaliaContributiō in Fraunce to the kinges vyage.Wherupō was graūted to the kyng, to gather of the vniuersall church of Fraunce by the Popes authoritie, the tenth part of all their goodes for three yeares space together, vpon this condition, MarginaliaThe pope maketh prouision for his contribution also in Fraunce.that the kyng likewise would graunt to the pope the twenty part, for so many yeares after, to be gathered of the sayd Church of Fraunce. Which was agreed. an. 1246. Ex Mat. Parisiens. fol. 204. b.

Marginalia1247Shortly after this, in the yeare of our Lord. 1247. folowed a Parlament in Fraunce, where the kyng with his nobles beyng present, there was declared, how the kyng of Tartarians or Turkes hearyng of the viage of the French kyng, writeth a letter to him requiryng that he will become his subiect. MarginaliaThe tyme of the kinges viage appointed.In the which Parlament, tyme was prefixed for takyng their iorney, which should be after the feast of S. Iohn Baptist, the next yeare insuyng. Also they that were croysed, were sworne to persiste in their purpose and sentence of the Popes great curse denounced to all them that went from the same. Parisiens. fol. 211. MarginaliaThe French king ready to recompense all iniuries done to his subiectes.Fathermore for the better speede in his iourney the kyng through all his realme caused it to be proclamed, that if any marchuaūt or other had bene iniured at any tyme by the kynges exactours, either by oppression or borowyng of money, let him bryng forth his Bill shewyng how or wherin, and he should be recompensed. MarginaliaWilliā Lōgspath with other noble Englishmē, prepared to the same viage.At which tyme William Longspatha a worthy warrier, with the Bishop of Worcester and certaine other great men in the Realme of England, moued with the example of the Frenchmen, prepared themselues likewise to the same iourney.

The next yeare after this insuyng, which was. 1248. the French kyng yet still remainyng in his purposed iourney, Lady Blanche his mother, also the Byshop of Paris his brother, with the Lordes of his counsaile, and MarginaliaPerswasiōs geuen to the Fench king to turne hys viage.other nobles, and his special frendes aduertised him with great persuasions, to alter his mynde touchyng that so aduenturous and so daungerous a iorney, for that his vow (sayd they) was vnaduisedly made, and in tyme of his sicknes, when his mynde was not perfectly stablished: and what ieoperdies might happen at home it was vncertaine, the kyng of England beyng on the one side, the Emperour on the other side, and the Pictauians in the middest so fugitiue, and vnstable: and as concernyng his vow, the pope should frendly dispense with him consideryng the necessitie of his Realme, and weakenes of his body. Besides all this his mother vpon her blessyng required him, his brethren of all loues desired him to stay at home, and not in his persō to aduenture, other might be sent in his rowme, with no lesse furniture to achiue that enterprise, and to discharge him of his vow, especially seyng at the makyng therof his senses were feeble, his body weake, and reason through sicknes, and very death almost, decayd.

MarginaliaThe kinges aunswere to his Lordes laying down & takyng vp his crosse agayne.To whom the kyng agayne: for somuch (sayd he) as you say, that for feeblenes of my senses I tooke this vow vpon me, loe therfore as you here will me, I lay downe the crosse that I tooke, and puttyng his hand to his shoulder, tare of the badge of the crosse, saying to the byshop, here Syr I resigne to you þ^e crosse wherewith I was signed. At the sight wherof there was no small reioysing to all that were there present. To whom the kyng then both alteryng his countenaunce and his speach thus spake: My frendes (sayd he) whatsoeuer I was then in my sicknes, now I thāke God, I am of perfect sense, and reason sound, and now I require my crosse agayne to be restored vnto me: Saying moreouer that no bread should come in his head, before he were recognised agayne with the same crosse, as he was before. At the hearyng wherof all there present were astonyed, supposing that God had some great matter to worke, and so moued no mo questions vnto him.

Marginalia1248
The French king setteth forth in hys iorney.Vpon this drew nye the feast of Iohn Baptist, which was the tyme set for the settyng forth. And now beyng in a readynes, the kyng in few dayes after was entryng his iourney. But yet one thyng lacked. For the kyng perceauyng the mortal variance betwene the pope, and good Fridericke the Emperour, thought best first before his goyng to haue that matter appeased, wherby his way both might be safer through the Emperours countreys,MarginaliaThe Frēch k. desireth to reconcile the Pope & the Emperour. and also lesse ieoperdy at home after his departure, & therfore vpon the same, tooke first his way to Lyons, where the pope was, partly to take his leaue, but most especially to make recōcilement betwene the Emperour and the Pope.

MarginaliaThe Emperour Frederike purgeth himselfe to the pope and counsell.Where is to be noted by the way, that as touchyng the good Emperour there was no let nor stay. Who rather sought all meanes how to compasse the Popes fauour, & neuer could obteine it. In somuch that before he should be excommunicated in the Councell of Lyons, he not onely aunswered sufficiently by Thadeus his atturney, dischargynghimselfe agaynst whatsoeuer crimes or obiections could be brought agaynst him, MarginaliaThe submissiō of the Emperour.but so farre humbled himselfe to the pope and the Councell, that for all detrimentes, damages, losses, or wronges done of his part, what amendes soeuer the Pope could or would require, he would recompence it to the vttermost. This would not be taken.

MarginaliaThe worthy offer of the noble Emperour.Furthermore, if the Pope (he sayd) coulde not abyde his taryng in his owne dominions and Impire, he would goe fight agaynst the Saracens and Turkes, neuer to returne into Europe agayne, offering there to recouer lands and kingdomes whatsoeuer did at any time belōg to Christendome, so that the Pope onely would be contented that Henry his sonne (which was then nephew to kyng Henry here in England) should be Emperour after hym. Neither could this be admitted.

MarginaliaThe Emperour offreth to put in the French king, and king of England to be hys suerities.Then he offered for truth of his promise to put in the French kyng and the kyng of England to be his sureties, or els for triall of his cause to stand to their award and arbitrement. Neither would that be graunted.

MarginaliaThe Emperour desireth to aunswere for himselfe in the councell.At least he desired, that he might come himselfe & aunswere before the Councell. But the proud Pope in no case would abyde that, saying: that he did not yet finde himself so ready and meete for Martyrdome, to haue hym to come thether to the Councell: for if he did, he would depart himselfe. &c. Ex Math. Paris. fol. 187. an. 1245.

MarginaliaThe pestilent rācor of pope Innocent 4. agaynst Friderike 2. is the cause of all this mischiefe, that to this day we suffer by the Turkes.This obstinate rancour and deuilish malice of Pope Innocent, and his predecessour agaynst that valiant Emperour, and against the Grecians, what disturbance and mischiefe it wrought to the whole Church, what strength it gaue to the Saracens and Tartarians, how it empayred Christian concorde, and weakened all Christen landes, not onely the host of the French king did finde shortly after, but Christēdome euē to this day may & doth feele & rue. Neither cā in stories be found any greater cause which first made þ^e Turkes so strong to get so much ground ouer Christēdome as they haue, then the pestilent workyng of this pope in deposing and excōmunicatyng thys worthy Emperour. For as there was neuer no Emperor of long tyme, which more victoriously preuayled in bridlyng & keepyng vnder these enemies of Christ, or would haue done more agaynst thē, thē þ^e sayd Friderick, if he myght haue bene suffered: so after þ^e deposing and excommunicating of hym, when the French kyng neyther would abyde at home, as he was counselled, MarginaliaThe beginning of the Turkes victories ouer Christendome.neyther yet was able, without the helpe of other, to wythstand the force and multitude of the sayde Saracens and Tartarians beyng now ioyned together, neyther yet could the Emperour be suffered by the Pope to rescue the king, it folowed therof, that the good kyng being taken prisoner, and all hys armye destroyed, the Turkes therupō got such a hand, and such a courage agaynst the Christians, that euer since they haue brast in farther vpon vs, and now haue preuayled so farre as neyther the power of the Pope nor of all Christendome is able to driue them out, as hereafter by sequele of story, is further to be declared.

MarginaliaPope Innocēt 4. would not be reconciled with the Emperour.In the meane tyme, to returne where before we left, when the French kyng commyng thus to the Pope at Lyons, to entreate for the Emperour, could finde no fauour, he tooke his leaue and with great heauines departed setting forward on his iourney to Marsilia, and so sayled to the Isle of Cyprus, where he remayned all that winter, so that falling into penury and lack of victuall, he was fayne to send to the Venitians and other Islandes by for helpe of prouision. The Venitians gently sent vnto hym sixe great shippes laden wyth corne, wyne and other victuals requisite, besides the relife of other Islands moe. MarginaliaThe french army relieued by the Emperour Friderike.But especially Fridericke the Emperour vnderstāding of theyr want, so furnished the French campe wyth all plenty of necessaries, that it had aboundance. MarginaliaThe french king againe entreateth the pope for the Emperour.Whereupon the Frēch kyng moued wyth the kyndnes of the Emperour, wrote hys speciall letters to the Pope in the Emperours behalfe, but the hard hart of the Pope would not relent. Blanchia the kynges mother in Fraunce, hearing what the Emperour had done to her sonne, sent hym most harty thankes, with presentes and rewardes manifold. Math. Parisiens. fol. 226.

MarginaliaDamiata gotten agayne by the French men.In this meane tyme about the beginning of October, the French men got Damiata, beyng the principall fort or hold of the Saracens in all Egypt. an. 1249. fol. 228. After the winning of Damiata, the Prince and people of the Saracens beyng astonyed at the losse therof, MarginaliaThe offers of the Saracens to the French men.offered to the Christians great ground and possessions more then euer belonged to Christendome before, so that they might haue Damiata to them restored agayne. But the pride of þ^e Erle of Artoys the kynges brother would in no case accept the offers of the Saracens, but required both Damiata and Alexandria the chiefe Metroplitane Citie of all Egypt to