ABSTRACT
There is no doubt that the vassals had serious grievances, and, as the texts included demonstrate, they were capable of presenting themselves as responsible and articulate. Directly after Peter’s murder, the High Court of Cyprus was convened. The prologue makes no attempt to justify the king’s murder. It is, however, significant that one of the assassins, Philip of Ibelin lord of Arsur, was chosen to preside at the meeting. There is no mention in either of these texts of the western knights who had volunteered for Peter’s wars and who feature so prominently in Guillaume de Machaut’s account, but other evidence suggests that the regime that came to power in 1369 was quick to move against the king’s foreign favourites. In the absence of the king the seneschal would preside at meetings of the High Court.
