Note 238 — Chapter III · KING HENRY’S HEIR 1183-1189
Reading edition
“Membrelh [Felip] sa sor el maritz orgolhos Que la laissa e no la vol tener; Aquest forfaitz mi sembla desplazer, E tot ades que s’en vai perjuran, Quel reis Navars l’a sai dat per espos A sa filha, per que l’anta es plus gran.” B. de Born, “Seu fos aissi senher,” ll. 22-8.
Thomas (73) and Stimming (36) are agreed that this sirventes dates from 1188. Stimming seems to think the lines quoted above refer to an event of quite recent occurrence; but anything like an avowed troth-plight between Richard and Berengaria at any time except between December 1183 and March 1186 would have been an insult to France so flagrant that neither Richard nor Sancho is likely to have run the risks which it would have involved. During that period, however, such a betrothal would give Philip no lawful ground for complaint, although a mischief-maker might easily use it, either at the time or some years later, to excite the French king’s resentment against a man who had thus failed to appreciate the honour of becoming his brother-in-law and preferred a daughter of Navarre to a daughter of France.