Villani's Chronicle: Being Selections from the First Nine Books of the Croniche Fiorentine of Giovanni VillaniVillani, Giovanni
History
Villani's Chronicle: Being Selections from the First Nine Books of the Croniche Fiorentine of Giovanni Villani
Villani, Giovanni
Florence (Italy) -- History
against the people, and he put him and Edward in prison in the castle
of Dover, and held the realm himself. The queen, . . . Edward's
maternal aunt, was desirous of saving him, and knew that Count Simon
came every Easter to Dover, and took Edward out of the castle, and
made him ride with him; and when he departed he caused him to be again
imprisoned with strong and strict guard, that he might not so much as
have letters. So the wise queen sent to Dover a wise and beautiful
damsel, which knew how to work in jewels, purses, and pouches. And
when Edward saw her he loved her, and so wrought with his guards that
they brought him the said damsel, and when he would have touched her,
she said to him: "I am here for other matters," and she drew forth
letters sent him by the queen, advising him as to his deliverance and
welfare; and therein she advised him that she was sending him one of
our Florentine horse-dealers, which was named Persona Fulberti, with
fine steeds, and a small ship equipped with many oars, and advising
him what he was to do. Now, after his wont, at Easter, Count Simon
came to Dover, and took Edward out of the castle, and while they were
trying the steeds of the said dealer, Edward, with the count's
permission, mounted the best of them, and galloping round in a wide
sweep, at last took to the field and made off, and came to the port
and found the bark prepared. Then he left the horse, and embarked, and
came to France, and then with aid from the king of France, and
Flanders, and Brabant, and Germany, with a great host he passed into
England, and fought against Count Simon, and discomfited him, and
seized him by the scalp, and had him dragged along the ground, and
then hung. Then he set his father free; and when he was dead, then was
Edward crowned king of England with great honour. And now we return to
our chief subject--how was slain Count Henry, earl of Cornwall,
brother of King Edward, in revenge for this, as we said before. The
court was greatly disturbed, giving much blame therefor to King
Charles, who ought not to have suffered this if he knew thereof, and
if he did not know it he ought not to have let it go unavenged. But
the said Count Guy, being provided with a company of men-at-arms on
horse and on foot, was not content only with having done the said
murder; forasmuch as a cavalier asked him what he had done, and he
replied, "J'ai fait ma vangeance," and that cavalier said, "Comment?
Votre pere fut traine;" and immediately he returned to the church, and
took Henry by the hair, and dead as he was, he dragged him vilely
without the church; and when he had done the said sacrilege and
homicide, he departed from Viterbo, and came safe and sound into
Maremma to the lands of Count Rosso, his father-in-law. By reason of
the death of the said Henry, Edward, his brother, very wrathful and
indignant against King Charles, departed from Viterbo, and came with
his followers through Tuscany, and abode in Florence, and knighted
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