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Now as it chanced, William de Berres and Drogo de Merlo encountred with Richard earle of Poictou and William de Mandeuille earle of Albemarle, so that William de Berres was taken by earle Richard, but by negligence of them that should haue taken héed to him, escaped awaie vpon his pages horsse.
The chief barons of Poictou, Guienne, Normandy, and Anjou, being attached to the young prince, and finding that he had now received the investiture from their superior lord, declared for him, and made inroads into the territories of such as still adhered to the king.
Kingship, even now, was not far off. You climbed in various ways, by the field, by the board, by the bed. A handsome daughter was nearly worth a stout son. The infatuation of the girl for this man or that man was nothing; but the infatuation of the great Count of Poictou for her set Eudo's heart ablaze.
The French king hearing by and by of his departure, assembled a great armie, and threatned to destroie the countrie of Normandie, and other lands on that side the sea, except king Henrie would deliuer into his hands the towne of Gisors, with the appurtenances, or cause his sonne Richard earle of Poictou to take to wife his sister Alice, according to his promise.
The poor girl felt herself doomed beforehand. What king's mistress had ever been his wife? And how could she be Richard's wife, betrothed to Gilles de Gurdun? Richard was much afield in these days, making military dispositions against his coming absence in Poictou. She saw him rarely; but in return she saw his peers, and had to keep her head high among the women of the French court.
You shall not make war on the side of England against Richard, for that will be against me. Your feud must wait its turn. For this present I have an account to settle in which Poictou is on my side. Marquess, you likewise are in my debt. See to it that you give my enemies no advantage. The Marquess and his cousin gave their words, holding up the hilts of their swords before their faces.
Yet God knows I hate him. So he went muttering on. The Count edged in his words as he could. 'He hates you, indeed, sire. He hates me. He hates all of us. 'I think we could find him reasons for that, my friend, if he lacked them, said Philip shrewdly. 'Do you know that De Gurdun is in Poictou come from Styria? Count John said nothing; but he did know it very well.
These, with the Chancellor of Poictou, the household servants and guards, were all we had with us. The Countess was to be ready upon word from him to go with her ladies and the court whithersoever he should appoint. Bertran de Born went away in the night, and King Richard never saw him again; but I shall have to speak of his last tenzon, and his last Sirvente of Kings, by heaven!
Minstrels and poets of the greatest contended with him; Saill had her champion in Guillem of Cabestaing, Elis in Girault of Borneilh; the Dauphin of Auvergne sang of Tibors, and Peire Vidal of Lady Maent. It was Bertran who dubbed her with the name she ever afterwards went by throughout Poictou and the south, the name of Bel Vezer.
So now, or almost so, he saw her new come from her father's side a little flushed, but very much the great small lady, ma dame Berengère of Navarre. 'The sun shines upon my Frozen Heart, said Bertran. She gave him her hand to kiss. 'No heart of yours am I, Bertran, she said; 'but chosen for a king. 'A king, lady! Whom then? She answered, 'A king to be. My lord Richard of Poictou.
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