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Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
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CLAUDE DELAVAL COBHAM
Exerpta Cypria
page 13

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made his escape. Then he sent a message to the king to say that ηοφι* would he keep peace or treaty with him. This, as it appeared, gave the king great pleasure, and, like a wary and prudent man, he immediately placed a large part of his army under the command of Guy, king of Jerusalem, and the other princes, saying to them, " Pursue and take the man, if you can. Meanwhile, I will sail round Cyprus with my galleys, and station guards all round the island, lest that forsworn deceiver escape my hands." As he had spoken, so did he. The galleys he divided into two squadrons, handing one over to Robert of Tnrnham, and retaining the other under his own command. Then they embarked, and setting sail, the king in one direction, and Robert in the other, sailed round the whole island, seizing all the ships and galleys they found in their course. The Griffons and Herminians, who had been charged with the defence of the Emperor's towns and castles and stores, seeing such a host of armed men and ships coming, fled into the mountains, leaving them without a guard. So the king and Robert took all the castles, towns and ports which they found empty, and having garrisoned and provisioned them and left guard ships, returned to Limeszun ; on the other hand, the king of Jerusalem and his forces were able to achieve but little in the course of their expedition. On the 12th day of May, being Sunday, and the feast of SS. Nereus, Achilleus and Pancratius, Richard, king of England, took to himself in marriage Berengaria, daughter of the king of Navarre. Nicolas, the king's chaplain, performed the office of this sacrament. On the same day the king caused his wife to be crowned Queen of England in the city of Limesznn by John, bishop of Evrenx, in the presence of the archbishops of Apamea and Auch, the bishop of Bayonne, and many others. After this the king of England, hearing that the Emperor's daughter was in a very strong castle called Cherin, went thither with his army. On his approach towards the fortress the Emperor's daughter came to meet him, and falling at his feet, did him obeisance, putting herself and the castle at his mercy. Then was delivered to him the exceeding streng castle called Buffovent, and after that all the towns and fortresses of the Empire were surrendered. The wretched Emperor lay in hiding in a certain strongly fortified abbey called Cape S. Andrea. Hearing that the king was at hand, he went ont to meet him, and falling at his feet prayed the king to spare him in life and limb, saying never a word about the realm, for as much as he knew that all was now in the king's hand and power. This only he begged from the king, that he would not Buffer him to be bound in fetters of iron. The king heard his prayer, and put him in charge of Ralph, son of Godfrey, his chamberlain, to λvatch and ward, giving word that fettere of gold and silver should be made, to bind the Emperor's hands and feet withal, and that he should be made fast in them. All these things befell in Cyprus in the month of June, on the first day of the month, being the vigil of Whitsunday. All things having been ordered for the security of the king's Empire, and garrisons placed in the towns and castles, the king put in charge of Cyprus Richard of Camville and Robert of Tornham. On the same day (June 1, 1191) Berengaria, Queen of England, the Queen of Sicily, and the daughter of the Emperor of Cyprus, accompanied by the greater part of the king's fleet, came to the camp before Acre. On the same day also died Philip, Count of Flanders, in the siege of Acre. On Wednesday after Whitsunday the king of England set forth from the island of Cyprus in his galleys, taking with him the king of Jerusalem, the Prince of Antioch, the Count of Tripoli, and the rest of the princes who had come to him in Cyprus. He also sent 8 EXCERPTA CYPRIA.

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