[404] Thus in March he received the liege homage of Maurice of Craon “for the time of Arthur’s imprisonment”; should Arthur be released and adhere to his engagements with Philip, Maurice was to be Arthur’s liegeman as he had been of old; should Arthur break faith with Philip, then Maurice was to adhere to the latter; should Arthur die, then Maurice was to remain a liegeman of Philip. In like manner the castles of Brissac and Chemillé were in the following October granted by Philip to Guy of Thouars, “saving the rights of Arthur if he be still alive,” Delisle, _Catal. des Actes de Phil.-Aug._ Nos. 752, 783. [405] These were the alternative versions proposed by John’s friends, according to M. Paris, _Hist. Angl._ vol. ii. p. 95. [406] _Chron. S. Albini Andeg._ a. 1203. [407] Rigord, c. 140; wrongly dated. [408] _Hist. de G. le Mar._ vv. 12675–720. [409] Cf. Rigord, c. 140; R. Coggeshall, p. 143; and R. Wendover, vol. iii. p. 172. [410] _Itin._ a. 5. [411] R. Wendover, vol. iii. pp. 171, 172. [412] Innoc. III. _Epp._ l. vi. No. 163; dated Anagni, Oct. 29, 1203. [413] _Ib._ No. 167 (same date). [414] _Ib._ Nos. 68, 69. [415] _Ib._ No. 163. [416] W. Armor. _Gesta P. A._ cc. 117, 118. The dates of the siege of Alençon come from _Itin._ a. 5. [417] The siege of Château-Gaillard was begun before the end of August. See below, p. 96. [418] Will. Armor. _Gesta P. A._ c. 129; _Philipp._ l. vii. vv. 739–47. [419] R. Wendover, vol. iii. p. 180. [420] Rigord, c. 141; W. Armor. _Gesta P. A._ c. 122; _Philipp._ l. vii. vv. 29–140. [421] _Itin._ a. 5. [422] “Johannem Mollegladium,” Gerv. Cant. vol. ii. p. 93. This nickname is no doubt a translation of one which must have been applied to John in French, though unluckily its vernacular form is lost. A friend has suggested that “if the phrase had any English equivalent, it would probably be something embracing a more direct metaphor than ‘Soft-sword’--something like ‘Tin-sword,’ or, better still, if the thirteenth century knew of putty, ‘John Putty-sword.’” [423] W. Armor. _Philipp._ l. vii. vv. 140–393. Cf. _Gesta P. A._ c. 123. [424] Rigord, c. 141, says Philip laid siege to Radepont on August 31. John’s attempt to relieve Les Andelys, being made from Rouen, cannot have been earlier than August 29, more probably 30, _Itin._ a. 5. [425] Rigord, c. 141; W. Armor. _Gesta P. A._ c. 121; _Philipp._ l. vii. vv. 400–2. [426] _Itin._ a. 5. He was at Dol September 19–22. [427] _Hist. de G. le Mar._ vv. 12721–42. [428] _Ib._ vv. 12743–67. John was at Rouen from October 4 to 7, when he went to Bonneville; _Itin._ a. 5. The poet goes on with an account of the king’s wanderings till “s’en vint a Rouen arere,” but his itinerary does not agree with the authentic one at any period of this year. [429] W. Armor. _Philipp._ l. vii. vv. 827–9. [430] _Itin._ a. 5. [431] _Hist. de G. le Mar._ vv. 12783–818. [432] Cf. _Itin._ a. 5 and R. Wendover, vol. iii. p. 173.