gain over the citizens by these
Biblical metaphors, Herbert of Orleans strengthened himself with
foreign arms and with the support of the Messinese nobles--who by
abuses and oppression had exalted themselves above their
fellow-citizens, and therefore now resolutely sided with the Vicar.
But first he sent seven Messinese galleys to attack Palermo under the
command of Richard de Riso, who in 1268 had dared with a few vessels
to confront the whole Pisan fleet, and who was now to lose in civil
war his honor as a citizen and his reputation as a leader; for uniting
with four galleys from Amalfi, under the command of Matthew del
Giudice and Roger of Salerno, he proceeded to blockade the port of
Palermo, and, as he was unable to effect anything else, approached the
walls and caused the name of Charles to be shouted aloud, together
with insults and menaces to the citizens. They, however, with the
long-suffering of conscious strength, replied that "they would neither
return the insults nor his blows; the Messinese and Palermitans were
brothers; the French oppressors their only enemies, and they would do
better to turn their arms against the tyrants." With these words they
hoisted the standard of the cross of Messina upon the walls beside the
eagle of Palermo.

The city of Messina--or rather those who wielded the municipal
authority--in order to prove their loyalty, on the 15th of April sent
five hundred cross-bowmen, under the command of Chiriolo, a knight of
Messina, to garrison Taormina and prevent its occupation by the
insurgents. The people, on the other hand, felt their Sicilian blood
boil as they received the news of the rising in Palermo and in the
other cities, of the progress of the insurgents through the island,
and of the slaughter and flight of the French, heightened by many
false or exaggerated reports; and when they beheld the fugitives enter
Messina, destitute and terror-stricken, they began to murmur and show
animosity against the soldiers of Herbert. These, feeling themselves
no longer safe in the city, withdrew--some to the castle of
Matagrifone, some to the royal palace where Herbert resided. The
latter, in an evil hour, decided on a display of energy. He sent
ninety horsemen under Micheletto Gatta to occupy the defences of
Taormina, as if unable to repose confidence in the Messinese garrison,
and the latter, seeing them approach in such arrogant and almost
hostile guise, and incited by a citizen named Barthol