Saladin told Bishop Hubert to ask for whatever he wished and it would be given him. The bishop considered overnight. Next day he answered that because divine services were performed at the tomb of our Lord in the barbaric Syrian style, if it should please the sultan to grant his request, he would ask that two Latin priests with two deacons be retained. The same should hold true at Bethlehem and Nazareth, hence Christian rites might be conducted according to both traditions. Saladin assented with characteristic grace.
Under the sultan’s license Bishop Hubert led his flock unmolested from Jerusalem to Acre. Having completed the pilgrimage they embarked for Europe but contrary winds drove them ruinously back and forth until great numbers ascended to heaven. Out of love for God and nothing else did they expose their weak flesh to suffering and martyrdom. Who can doubt that their souls found peace in the everlasting embrace of Jesus? Thus we see how the Savior cares for His children.
Be it said that pilgrims long ago met with precarious conditions and a multiplicity of dues. In our year of providence 870 the monk Bernard was imprisoned because he would not pay tax at the gate to Cairo, no matter that he displayed a pass issued by Saracens at Bari. Caliph Hakim ordered Christians to wear about their necks a copper cross ten pounds in weight. Jews should wear the wooden head of a calf. So it is clear how Saladin stood above previous monarchs.
On the ninth day of October, 1192, which is to say almost one hundred years since Peter the hermit called upon Christians to rescue the Holy Land, King Richard departed. However, before embarking he undertook to ransom William de Préaux who had cried out in Saracenic that he himself was Melech, saving Richard from captivity. Turks demanded ten of their nobles in exchange for William. King Richard gladly agreed.
And before embarking he counseled his nephew Henry, who was at times arrogant, to maintain good relations with Saladin. Soon enough Henry would join the celestial host. They say he called up sergeants and crossbowmen for the relief of Joppa and was leaning on a balcony rail to gaze down at them in the palace courtyard when the rail collapsed. More than once he had asked that the rail be fixed. Now he pitched headfirst to the cobbles. His dwarf Scarlet clutched at his leg, went tumbling after him and landed atop him, a bad day for the Holy Land since Henry was accounted wise and puissant, a young man of excellent character. Much benefit might have accrued had he not perished.
All night Richard’s vessel sailed by the stars and next morning at dawn he looked back thoughtfully. He was heard to pray aloud. O Holy Land, in God’s keeping I leave you. May He in His mercy grant me days enough to return with all the succor that is in my heart.
After which he bade his crew hoist sail and cross the sea with timely speed.
But the Lord grew wroth that King Richard elected to return while Jerusalem lay in shackles. He commanded a boiling tempest that scattered and destroyed Richard’s fleet. Now who is able to count the dangers met at sea? Does the anchor break loose? A sail-yard? Does the stern crack, fall asunder? Cables part? At night when clouds lock up the stars who shall steer a course? Or the vessel may grind against a rock. Not least that malaise which causes men to vomit, when the Body of Christ shall end up as bilge. Nevertheless we should not forget the Apostle Paul whose mariners let down a plummet to sound the depth and called it twenty fathoms. But a little further they cried out fifteen fathoms. Yet beside Paul stood the angel of God and they escaped to land. So did Richard, six weeks storm tossed, during which he sailed against his wish toward Barbary, at last make port on the island of Corfu. Knowing full well the courage of pirates he employed two pirate vessels with beaked prows to carry him north and he disguised as a Templar knight. With him went Philip his clerk, Anselm who was chaplain, Lord Baldwin de Betun, and several Templars from whose lips the wretched story was learned.
When they had come to Zara he despatched a servant to the nearest castle, requesting of its lord safe passage. While in the Holy Land, mayhap at Joppa, he had bought three rubies at a cost of nine hundred bezants. One ruby he set into a gold ring. And this he offered as a gift. Now the servant, being asked for whom safe conduct was requested, answered that it was for pilgrims back from Jerusalem. The lord of the castle asked their names. One is called Baldwin de Betun, the servant replied. The other, who sends you this gift, is Hugh the merchant.
For a long time the castle lord did not speak. Nay, said he at last while fondling the ring. Nay, that is not Hugh the merchant. That is Richard of England.
Then he said he had vowed to take captive all pilgrims returning from Jerusalem. Yet by virtue of the nobility of this ring would he send it back to its owner with leave to proceed.
King Richard suspected betrayal. That night his men equipped the horses. Stealthily they rode away from Zara. But the castle lord had sent ahead to his brother, bidding him seize Hugh the merchant. The lord of that territory called for Roger d’Argenton who was a spy, a Norman
