Page "Richard I of England" Paragraph 33

Richard claimed that England was " cold and always raining ," and when he was raising funds for his crusade, he was said to declare, " I would have sold London if I could find a buyer.

" However, although England was a major part of his territories — particularly important in that it gave him a royal title with which to approach other kings as an equal — it faced no major internal or external threats during his reign, unlike his continental territories, and so did not require his constant presence there.

Like most of the Plantagenet kings before the 14th century, he had no need to learn the English language.

Leaving the country in the hands of various officials he designated ( including his mother, at times ), Richard was far more concerned with his more extensive French lands.

After all his preparations he had an army of men-at-arms, foot-soldiers and a fleet of 100 ships.