"Against whose fury and unmatched force Nor keep his princely heart from Richard's hand." 1. Cœur de Lion, s. Fr. in English, lion-hearted. 2. Ren'dezvous, s. (ren-de-vooz), an appointed place of meeting. 3. Con'troversies, s. disputes, quarrels. SHAKSPEARE. 5. Sar'acens, s. a people of Arabia. 9. Shackles, s. chains, fetters. 1. (A.D. 1190.) RICHARD, surnamed Coeur de Lion, upon his ascending the throne, was still inflamed with the desire of going upon the crusade: and at length the king, having got a sufficient supply for his undertaking, having even sold his superiority over the kingdom of Scotland, which had been acquired in the last reign, for a moderate sum, he set out for the Holy Land, whither he was impelled by repeated messages from the king of France, who was ready to embark in the same enterprise. 2. The first place of rendezvous for the two armies of England and France, was the plain of Vevelay, on the borders of Burgundy, where, when Richard and Philip arrived, they found their armies amounting to a hundred thousand fighting men. Here the French prince and the English entered into the most solemn engagements of mutual support; and, determined to conduct the armies to the Holy Land by sea; they were obliged, however, by stress of weather, to take shelter at Messina, the capital of Sicily, where they were detained during the whole winter. 3. Richard took up his quarters in the suburbs, and possessed himself of a small fort, which commanded the harbour, Philip quartered his troops in the town, and lived upon good terms with the Sicilian king. Many were the mistrusts and the mutual conciliations between these two monarchs, which were very probably inflamed by the Sicilian king's endeavours. At length, however, having settled all controversies, they set sail for the Holy Land, where the French arrived long before the English. 4. Upon the arrival of the English army in Palestine, however, fortune was seen to declare more openly in favour of the common cause. The French and English princes seemed to forget their secret jealousies, and to act in concert. But shortly after, Philip, from the bad state of his health, returned to France, leaving Richard ten thousand of his troops, under the command of the duke of Burgundy. 5. Richard, being now left conductor of the war, went on from victory to victory. The Christian adventurers, under his command, determined to besiege the renowned city of Ascalon, in order to prepare the way for attacking Jerusalem with greater advantage. Saladin, the most heroic of the Saracen monarchs, was resolved to dispute their march, and placed himself upon the road with an army of three hundred thousand men. was a day equal to Richard's wishes; this an enemy worthy his highest ambition. 6. The English crusaders were victorious. Richard, when the wings of his army were defeated, led on the main body in person, and restored the battle. The Saracens fled in the utmost confusion, and no less than forty thousand of their number perished in the field of battle 2. Ascalon soon surrendered after this This 1 This place suffered much by an earthquake in 1783. It is famous for its wines, and is the finest harbour in the Mediterranean. 2 So prevalent was the courage of the English king, even in the enemy's army, and so dreaded was his name, that the Saracens would say to their restive horses, "What do you start at? do you think you see king victory; other cities of less note followed the example; and Richard was at last able to advance within sight of Jerusalem, the object of his long and ardent expectations. 7. But just at this glorious juncture his ambition was to suffer a total overthrow: upon reviewing his forces, and considering his abilities to prosecute the siege, he found that his army was so wasted with famine, fatigue, and even victory, that they were neither able nor willing to second the views of their commander. 8. It appeared, therefore, absolutely necessary to come to an accommodation with Saladin; and a truce for three years was accordingly concluded; in which it was agreed, that the sea-port towns of Palestine should remain in the hands of the Christians; and that all of that religion should be permitted to make their pilgrimage to Jerusalem in perfect security 3. 9. Richard having thus concluded his expedition with more glory than advantage, began to think of returning home but being obliged to take the road through Germany, in the habit of a pilgrim, he was arrested by Leopold, duke of Austria, who commanded him to be imprisoned, and loaded with shackles, to the disgrace of honour and humanity. The emperor soon after required the prisoner to be delivered up to him, and stipulated a large sum of money to the duke as a reward for his services.10. Thus, the king of England, who had long filled the world with his fame, was basely thrown into a dungeon, and loaded with irons, by those who expected to reap a sordid advantage from his misfortunes. It was a long time before his subjects in England knew what was become of their beloved monarch. 11. So little intercourse was there between different nations at that time, that this discovery is said by some to have been made by a poor French min Richard ?" Nor was his zealous industry less remarkable than his courage. To encourage the soldiers in repairing the ruined walls of Acre, Cœur de Lion not only laboured in person, but appointed hours for other leaders to work at the head of their men. All cheerfully obeyed, except the duke of Austria, who sent word that his father having been neither bricklayer nor mason, he had not learned either business. English king, hearing this insolent speech repeated to his face by the haughty duke, kicked him out of his tent, and ordered his banner to be disgraced. Brompton. The 3 There was a magnanimity and generosity in Saladin rarely seen. It is recorded, that once during this campaign, Richard was dangerously sick, and his disorder requiring fresh fruit, and snow to render it cool, the generous Saracen sent both in profusion, and thus saved the life of the only foe he dreaded. (Vita Saladini.) strel, who, playing upon his harp, near the fortress in which Richard was confined, a tune which he knew that unhappy monarch was fond of, he was answered by the king from within, who, with his harp, played the same tune, and thus discovered the place of his confinement. 12. However, the English at length prevailed upon this barbarous monarch, who now saw that he could no longer detain his prisoner, to listen to terms of accommodation. A ransom was agreed upon, which amounted to a hundred and fifty thousand marks, or one hundred thousand pounds of our money, upon the payment of which Richard was once more restored to his expecting subjects. 13. Nothing could exceed the joy of the English upon seeing their monarch return, after all his achievements and sufferings. He made his entry into London in triumph; and such was the profusion of wealth shewn by the citizens, that the German lords, who attended him, were heard to say, that if the emperor had known of their affluence, he would not so easily have parted with their king. He soon after ordered himself to be crowned anew at Winchester. He convoked a general council at Nottingham, at which he confiscated all his brother John's possessions, who had basely endeavoured to prolong his captivity, and gone over to the king of France with that intent. However, he pardoned him soon after, with this generous remark, "I wish I could as easily forget my brother's offence as he will my pardon." 14. Richard's death was occasioned by a singular accident. A vassal of the crown had taken possession of a treasure, which was found by one of the peasants, in digging a field in France; and, to secure the remainder, he sent part of it to the king. Richard, as superior lord, sensible that he had a right to the whole, insisted on its being sent to him; and, upon refusal, attacked the castle of Chalus, where he understood this treasure had been deposited. 15. On the fourth day of the siege, as he was riding round the place to observe where the assault might be given with the fairest probability of success, he was aimed at by one Bertram de Jourdan, an archer, from the castle, and pierced in the shoulder with an arrow. wound was not in itself dangerous; but an unskilful surgeon, endeavouring to disengage the arrow from the flesh, so rankled the wound, that it mortified, and brought on The fatal symptoms, 16. Richard, when he found his end approaching, made a will, in which he bequeathed the kingdom, with all his treasure, to his brother John, except a fourth part, which he distributed among his servants. He ordered also that the archer who had shot him should be brought into his presence, and demanded what injury he had done him, that he should take away his life? The prisoner answered with deliberate intrepidity: 17. "You killed, with your own hand, my father and my two brothers, and you intended to have hanged me. I am now in your power, and my torments may give you revenge ; but I will endure them with pleasure, since it is my conso lation that I have rid the world of a tyrant." Richard, struck with this answer, ordered the soldier to be presented with one hundred shillings, and set at liberty; but Marcade, the general under him, like a true ruffian, ordered him to be flayed alive, and then hanged. Richard died in the tenth year of his reign, and the forty-second of his age, leaving only one natural son, named Philip, behind him. Questions for Examination. 1. With whom did Richard embark for the Crusades ? 2. Of what number did the armies consist? 4. On Philip's return to France, who was left to conduct the war? 5. Who opposed Richard on his march to besiege Jerusalem? 6. Can you repeat the particulars of the battle? 8. What circumstance induced Richard to come to an accommodation with Saladin? 9. In returning home, what happened to Richard ? 11. How was it discovered that Richard was a prisoner? 12. By what means did Richard recover his liberty? 13. Who endeavoured to prolong Richard's captivity? and what was his remark on this occasion? 15. Can you relate the singular accident which caused the death of Richard? 17. What was the answer of the person who shot the king? |