BERENGARIA OF NAVARRE, Queen of Richard the First. CHAPTER I. Berengaria's marriage with Richard the First negociated-Her descent-BirthRichard embarks on a crusade to the Holy Land-Joins the King of FranceArrives at Messina-Releases his sister Joanna from imprisonment--Vengeance on Tancred, King of Sicily-The King of France reaches Sicily-Proceeds on his voyage without Richard-Berengaria travels to Sicily with Queen Eleanora-Is welcomed by Richard and his sister Joanna-Eleanora goes to Rome-Proceeds to England-Berengaria embarks with Richard and Joanna for Palestine-The fleet driven by a storm to Cyprus-Richard takes the capital of Cyprus-Berengaria lands, and is married to Richard-The Princess and Emperor of Cyprus made prisoners-Cyprus conquered-Berengaria and Richard sail for the Holy LandRichard takes one of Saladin's ships-Berengaria and Joanna welcomed by King Philip, at Acre-Richard lands in Palestine-His deeds of valour there-The other Christians jealous of his success-His friendship for Saladin and Melech Adelus. O sooner had Richard the First encircled his brow with the diadem of England, than his fond mother Eleanora proceeded to Navarre, to claim for him the hand of the beautiful Berengaria, the eldest daughter of Sancho the Wise, King of Navarre, and his consort Peatrice, whose father, Alphonso, was King of Castile. Although of Spanish descent, Berengaria of Navarre was a Provençal princess by birth and education. Sancho the Strong, her only brother, was a skilful poet and renowned warrior, and from his youth the sworn friend of Coeur de Lion. The Princess Blanche, her sister -she had but one-became the wife of the Count of Champagne, and their heirs wore the royal circlet of Navarre. History has not recorded when Berengaria entered the world, but it appears probable that Richard was captivated by her maidenly charms about the year 1177, when Henry the Second of England so justly arbitrated the differences between the Kings Sancho and Alphonso, respecting the marriage settlement of Beatrice, Sancho's Queen, as it was then that Richard first visited the court of Navarre. We, therefore, cannot much err in naming 1165 as the probable year of her birth. Whilst his mother was in Navarre successfully negociating his marriage, Richard set forth on that gigantic crusading expedition, which had so long and so fully occupied his mind, and to which he devoted all the treasure he could, by fair or foul means, possess himself of. With |