Page 346

346 A HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES 
out the tortuous actions which followed on the part of the lady Isabel, the
constable, the prince of Galilee, and their dwindling band of supporters,
the queen-mother played a part of statesmanlike moderation so that Henry
might return to a united rather than a divided kingdom. 
 These tortuous actions need not be described in detail. They amounted to
delaying tactics on the part of Isabel, the constable, and the prince, aided
and abetted by king Oshin in Cilicia, in the hope that the situation might
somehow be reversed in their favor or that, failing this, there might at
least be assured the safety of Isabel and her children. But, although they
contrived to postpone Henry's return for some weeks, they were unable ultimately
to prevent it. By the beginning of August an agreement had been concluded
with Oshin providing for Henry's departure for Cyprus simultaneously with
the return of the lady of Tyre and her children to Cilicia. 
 To the end there was bad faith on the part of the Armenians, who, after
Isabel had actually landed at Ayas, tried to seize the boat in which Henry
was being conveyed to his galley. The attempt was foiled by the vigilance
of the Cypriotes, and the king, safely aboard, was visited by Isabel's son
Hughet, who made his submission, offered his services, and was well received.
Thereupon Isabel herself decided to follow suit and, "throwing herself at
Henry's feet begged for pardon, assuring him that he would learn in time
that her guilt was less than was imputed to her, and offering to swear allegiance.
Then she opened a box and handed to Henry the crown, scepter, ring, and seals
which her husband had seized from the Franciscans, with whom they had been
deposited. She begged the king to punish the authors of her husband's death.
The king replied briefly—for the fleet was ready to sail—accepting
her excuse so far as she personally was concerned; but place and time were
not suitable for him to receive her oath. He regretted that her husband had
died with such a sin upon his soul, and promised to do his best to purchase
his absolu tion."4 On August 27, 1310, after nearly seven months of exile
and four years and four months of exclusion from the exercise of his authority,
Henry landed at Famagusta, where his return was cele brated with three days
of rejoicing. In Nicosia, where he was greeted "as though he had risen from
the dead," the festivities were even more prolonged. 
 The period of Amalric's usurpation (1306—13 10) saw two events of
an importance in crusading history far transcending the confines of the kingdom
of Cyprus. One was the inquisition by pope Clement V, 
4. Hill, History of Cyprus, II, 260.