[1063] R. Coggeshall, 56. R. Howden, iii, 186, says Richard was captured asleep; according to Otto of S. Blaise (Pertz, xx. 324), he was roasting meat on a spit, thinking by this servile employment to avoid recognition, and was betrayed by a splendid ring which he had forgotten to remove from his finger. This account of the matter has a somewhat characteristic air; but it may have been founded on a confused version of Ralf’s story of the ring offered to Mainard of Gorizia. W. Newburgh’s narrative of Richard’s adventures (lib. iv. c. 31) seems to be based on the Emperor’s letter, which says nothing about the circumstances of the capture; the details and speeches added by William are obviously mere rhetoric of his own. The date is given by R. Coggeshall as December 21, by R. Diceto (ii. 106) as December 22. [1064] _Ann. Marbac._, Pertz, xvii. 165; Ansbert, ed. Dobrowsky, 112; R. Howden, iii., introd. cxl. [1065] R. Coggeshall, 56. [1066] Letter in R. Howden, iii, 195. [1067] _Ann. Magn. Reichensberg._, Pertz, xvii. 520. [1068] Ansbert, ed. Dobrowsky, 115; R. Howden, iii. introd. cxli. [1069] Otto of S. Blaise, Pertz, xx. 324. [1070] Agreement in Ansbert, ed. Dobrowsky, 115-19, and Stubbs’s R. Howden, iii. introd. cxli.-iii. [1071] Kellner, _Gefangenschaft_, 39. [1072] Rigord, 116; _Gesta Ric._, 192-9, 203, 204, 227-30. [1073] Ansbert, ed. Dobrowsky, 78; for date see Kellner, 18, note 2. Milan does not appear in Philip’s itinerary in _Gesta Ric._, unless in the form of “Cassem Milan” (230), and this identification is doubtful, as the name comes between “Monte Bardon” and “Furnos,” _i. e._ Farinovo. Some of the other names, however, seem to be out of geographical order. [1074] This probably referred to Richard’s dealings with Saladin. [1075] R. Howden, iii. 198, 199; cf. W. Newb., lib. iv. c. 33. The date of the assembly is from R. Diceto, ii. 106. The place was probably Spire; Richard was there on Easter day and on the Tuesday in Easter week (March 28 and 30), _Epp. Cantuar._, 362-4. The statement of the Emperor’s poetical panegyrist, Peter of Eboli, that Richard offered to clear himself by ordeal of battle, a proposal by which Henry was so greatly impressed in his favour that he set him at liberty (_Petr. Ansolini de Ebulo Carmen_, _apud_ Muratori, _Rer. Ital. Scriptt._ xxxi. 142), is probably a misunderstanding or a poetical embellishment of Richard’s offer to stand to right in the court of his French overlord. [1076] R. Diceto, ii. 106, 107. [1077] Stubbs, note to R. Howden, iii. 210.