Richard of Devizes

Richard of Devizes (fl. late 12th century) was an English chronicler and a monk of St Swithin's house at Winchester. The Chronicon de rebus gestis Ricardi Primi (1192), by which he is chiefly known, covers only the first three years of King Richard's reign; it is practically an account of events in England and the Holy Land during the Third Crusade. Quotes Rex Angliæ procedit armatus, vexillum draconis terribile præfertur expansum, clangor tubæ post regem movet exercitum. Refulsit sol in clipeos aureos et resplenduerunt montes ab eis; ibant caute et ordinate, et sine ludo res agebatur. Griffones, e diverso, clausis januis civitatis, armati stabant ad propugnacula murorum et turrium nihil adhuc metuentes, et ejaculabantur incessanter in hostes. Rex, qui nihil melius novit quam expugnare civitates et evertere castra, permisit primo pharetras eorum evacuari, et sic demum per suos sagittarios, qui præibant exercitum, primum fecit insultum. Sagittarum imbre cœlum tegitur, protensos per propugnacula clipeos mille tela transfodiunt, nihil contra pilorum impetum poterat salvare rebelles. Relinquuntur muri sine custodia, quia nullus potuit foris prospicere quin in ictu oculi sagittam haberet in oculo. The king of England proceeds in arms; the terrible standard of the dragon is borne in front unfurled, while behind the king the sound of the trumpet excites the army. The sun shone brightly on the golden shields, and the mountains were resplendent in their glare; they marched cautiously and orderly, and the affair was managed without show. The Griffones, on the contrary, the city gates being closed, stood armed at the battlements of the walls and towers, as yet fearing nothing, and incessantly discharged their darts upon the enemy. The king, acquainted with nothing better than to take cities by storm and batter forts, let their quivers be emptied first, and then at length made his first assault by his archers who preceded the army. The sky is hidden by the shower of arrows, a thousand darts pierce through the shields spread abroad on the ramparts, nothing could save the rebels against the force of the darts. The walls are left without guard, because no one could look out of doors, but he would have an arrow in his eye before he could shut it. Chronicon de rebus gestis Ricardi Primi (1192) sec 26 (ed. J. Stevenson, 1838; tr. J. A. Giles, 1841) Messina besieged by Richard the Lionheart, 4 October 1190 External links Chronicon Ricardi Divisiensis De rebus gestis Ricardi Primi regis Angliæ, edited by Joseph Stevenson, English Historical Society (London, 1838) The Chronicle of Richard of Devizes concerning the deeds of Richard the First, King of England; also, Richard of Cirencester's Description of Britain, translated by J. A. Giles (London: James Bohn, 1841) Category:Historians from England Category:Chroniclers Category:Monks Category:People of the Crusades