Mediæval messages

This is the sort of thing we would miss out on if we lose palæography. An historically highly interesting message dating from the Middle Ages has been dug up and the text deciphered. Here it is:

Richard I, by the grace of God, august King of England, sends his most kind greetings.

Because I know that you especially desire to hear from me and to learn the state of my prosperity, I think it fitting to first tell you of this. Due to our most precarious state, I ask that you maintain the utmost secrecy regarding this sensitive correspondence.

I have hidden in France a large sum of foreign gold worth at least 300,000 pounds silver. Regretfully, I find myself unable to convey this wealth back to England. To be brief, I have been imprisoned in Germany due to a hostile regime. In addition to the indignity of false imprisonment, Henry VI has demanded an unreasonably cruel ransom of 65,000 pounds silver.

Therefore, I offer the following arrangement. If you will send the ransom of 65,000 pounds silver to Henry VI, on my release I shall procure the aforementioned gold. On our return to England, you shall receive one half of the foreign gold I carry. Let my seal on this letter be proof of my honesty in this matter. Once more, I would entreat you to maintain the secrecy of this matter to better ensure that we return with the gold without interference.

In brief therefore, God willing, I shall return to England. I render to you the gratitude which you deserve for the very great fidelity which you have shown to me. And with the full intention of worthily rewarding your services, I ask you to continue the same.

Rumours that it was postcoded NRI CDXV are apparently unfounded.

Thanks: squiffy at the Motley Fool forum.
UPDATE: Thanks also to the original source, who requested that I post this link to his original. Request gladly granted.