The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-22
CHIvALRY AND CASH.
MANY CASES OF ROYAL RANsoMs IN
EyGLAND's HISTORY.

paign-Thc wars OF the Roses.
From Household Words.
Chivalry and hard cash are not gener-
ally associated in the popular magma
ton. but there was a good deal of the
commercial spirit about the paladins OF
old. To win a battle was not only to gain
honor and renown; there was also con-
siderable traffic in prisoners; and the
sums acquired in the way Of ransoms Of
ten brought fortune to the successful
warrior. Bodily force was the only force
welded in the battles Of those days; and
the desire to obtain distinction by its
heroic exercise necessarily caused the
leaders of an army to be much exposed
TO danger and to capture. Many distin-
guished prisoners were accordingly taken
by the victors in battle, and these were
seldom restored to their friends or their
country until the sum Of money had been
paid as their ransom. The amount va
ried according to the rank Of the priso-
ner. For kings most exorbitant sums
were always demanded.
In English history there are several
cases mentioned Of royal ransoms. The
circumstances connected with them are
highly interesting, and place in strik-
ing point of view the manners Of the
way in which the business of nations was
then transacted.
Richard l. was the only English king
who was ever detained a captive In for
eign country. On his return from his
celebrated crusade in the Holyland his
ship was wrecked in the Adriatic seaI
and, in the hope of escaping detection, he
pursued his journey in the disguise of
pilgrim. Historians differ in their ac-
counts of the manner in which he was
captured; but 1t Is certain that he was
seized by the Duke of Austria, who was
obliged to give possession Of his prize to
the Emperor of Germany. BY him the
''lion heart of England was confined
close prisoner in various fortresses and
subjected to very ignominious treatment
The emperor expected that he would re-
ceive a large sum from the English peo-
pie as the ransom for their king, which
he promised to share with the original
captor, the Duke of Austria.
Connected with Richards Imprisonment
is the time-honored legend of Richards
favorite Minstrel Blondel, and of his wan
derings through Europe in search of his
royal master, whom he discovered at last,
as he played on the lutte one of Richards
favorite melodies under the barred window
of the dungeon where the monarch was
confined, who took up the air, and sang
the well known song-a pleasant and ro-
mantle incident, which meets with general
incredulity on the part of critical histo-
rians.
Eventually, il was agreed that Richard
should be set free on condition that the
Emperor of Germany received 100000 marks
the Duke of Austria $1,000; that hostages
for the latter sum should be delivered, and
that the Princess Eleanor of Bretagne,
niece of the King of England, should be
given in marriage to the eldest son of the
Duke of Austria.
In England the most active measures
were adopted to raise the money. Taxes
were imposed by the authority of the great
council of the realm, and most vigorously
collected. The land had been divided by
William the Conqueror into about 5000
portions, called knights fees, each of
which was now taxed to the extent of 20
shillings Many Of the gold and silver yes
sells belonging to the church were melted
into coin, and the Cistercian monks were
compelled to give the wool of their sheep
for one year. on the sale of which they
mainly depended for subsistence. The citi-
zens of London contributed 1,50o marks,
and William of Scotland gave 1000. These
payments, made by Scotland, rendered
money in that country so scarce that
new coinage was made, which appears to
have been debased and to have led to many
discussions.
During the reign Of Richard very GU
rious case Of ransom occurred. A certain
French bishop happened to be taken pris-
oner in one of the many skirmishes that
were then constantly occurring. His high
birth and other circumstances caused his
ransom to be fixed at most enormous
sum. The bishop applied for protection to
the pope, who strongly interceded for his
dearly beloved SON." The reply OF Rich
ard was characteristic of the times. He
sent the armor, all blood-stained which
the bishop had worn In battle, to the pope,
and asked him whether he knew the dress
of his "dearly-beioved SON." The pope
thereupon declared that, as the bishop had
relinquished the warfare Of the cross for
that of the sword, he must stand the con-
sequences. The bishop was ultimately re-
leased on payment of 1000 marks.
1t fell to the lot of Edward III of Eng
land to have two royal captives during
his reign and to receive considerable sums
as their ransom. At the battle OF Ne
ville's Cross, fought near Durham 5JO
years ago, namely, on Oct. II, 1886, be-
tween the English and the Scotch, tie
latter were defeated and their king, David
IL, taken prisoner while lighting most
CALAMITY and badly wounded says Frois-
sart, ''by a squire of Northumberland
named John Copeland, who, as soon as
he SOl sillIs PuSuSu bAtOuSA bAlS NAONo
and with eight other companions, rode
off and never stopped until he was dis
tant from the field of battle about fifteen
miles" Copeland made the most of his
prize and would only give up his prisoner
after he had seen the king in person and
obtained grant Of land in exchange foI
the captive. The Scots eventually ran
somed their monarch for the sum of $50. 00
marks. This enormous sum was actually
raised and every fraction of 1t paid II
hard gold and silver. The last paymen
was made In 1888.
Sir John Froissart commences one chap
ter of his Chronicles" with the quain
remark that '1t often happens that for
tune in war and love turns out more fav
orable and wonderful than could hav
been hoped for or expected" The goo
fortune of Edward, the Black Prince, a
the battle of Poitiers, is a striking illus
tratlon of Sir Johns sage remark Tn
condition Of the English previous TO tn
battle appeared so hopeless than John, tn
French king, expecting they would max
some sacrifice to be allowed to depar
unmolested, wished to conclude peace OF
condition that the Black Prince, who com
manded the English army, should sur