ABSTRACT
It is the truth that whilst this fleet of the counts was being prepared at Naples, a noble of France, by name micer A. d’Availles, who was a powerful baron, thought that he, on his own account, could perform some signal deed which would turn to his honour and to that of his men, and which would please King Charles, for he had left France in order to support him. And he came to the Prince1 and said to him : “ Prince, I know you have at Brindisi twenty galleys undecked aft. May it please you to have them fitted out, for they are all in good repair; and spread the rumour that you wish to send me to the Morea with chivalry, and let everyone embark at once, voluntarily or by force. And I, with three hundred horsemen, all natural dependents of mine and of kinsmen of mine, shall go on board with expert knights. And have me set on shore in Sicily, at Agosta, where there is a good port and a strong, fine castle which I have held before for your father. And at present the King of Aragon is not careful to guard it and the town is not well walled and, with the crews of the galleys, we must be able to enter it at once. And whilst I shall
attack on one side, count Brienne, count Monfort and the other counts who have gone there, will attack as fiercely on another. Thus we shall surely lay waste and bum all the island, and shall reinforce all the castles still held for you. And whilst En Roger de Luria is out of Sicily we can safely carry out what I have planned.” What shall I tell you ? The Prince knew micer A. d’Availles for so fine a knight and for so wise that he believed him and granted him what he had proposed. And as he had planned, so it was done; whilst the admiral was at Lipari they got ready and departed from Brindisi and came to the town of Agosta and attacked and captured and sacked it.
