host, for he longed to strike a decisive blow for the deliverance of Jerusalem. It was not long before the hostile armies met, when a battle-one of the most celebrated of the age-was fought between the Crusaders and the Saracens, the former commanded by Richard, and the latter by the heroic Saladin.o Richard and Saladin were both renowned for military skill, and the troops on either side were brave and determined; so this battle was a fierce and hardly contested one. After a desperate conflict, however, the Saracens gave way, and from this time the fame of Richard spread throughout the Holy Land. His invincible courage, his heroic acts, his daring bravery, were themes for every tongue, and gained him a great and splendid reputation. 3 By the Saracens his name was dreaded, by the English loved, and by Philip of France hated. It is said that so formidable did his name become in the enemy's camp, that the Saracens used to say to their restive horses, "Why do you start? Do you think King Richard is near?" And now Richard's hopes seemed in a fair way of being realized; but by this time Philip had grown so jealous of Cœur de Lion, that he pretended the climate of Palestine did not agree with him, and that he must return to France. Before he went, however, he solemnly promised not to make any attack on Richard's dominions, though he fully meant to do so as soon as he returned home. On his departure this crafty monarch left ten thousand of his troops behind, under the command of the Duke of Burgundy, but he told the duke to lose no opportunity of mortifying and opposing the English king. The result of this underhand course of conduct was soon apparent; for when Richard proceeded to besiege the Holy City, and had arrived within sight of the object of his ardent hopes, he found that a stop was put to his career of victory. The Duke of Burgundy, with his French troops, refused to advance to the siege; the Germans and Italians declared they were tired of the war; and the English expressed a desire to return to their native land. Richard himself was the only one who wished to continue the contest. The long stay of the Crusaders in the Holy Land, the fatigue and hardship they had endured in that sultry clime, the disease which had thinned their ranks, all tended to make them long to return to Europe; and Coeur de Lion, grieved and mortified, was obliged to submit. A truce was therefore concluded with Saladin for three years, three months, three weeks, three days, and three hours, and then the Crusaders prepared for their homeward journey. 1 The Cru-sa-der wore a cross on his left shoulder. The colour of the English cross was white; French, red; Italian, blue; Spanish, scarlet; German, black; Flemish, green. The Knight Templar's was red on white. 2 Sal'-a-din, the Sultan of Egypt, who was in possession of the Holy Land. He was distinguished for his valour and generosity. Died at Damascus in 1192. 3 The French king was jealous of Richard's great fame, and had previously quarrelled with him at Messina. RESULTS OF THE CRUSADES. IN succeeding years other Crusades were undertaken, and in one of these Prince Edward, afterwards Edward the First, took part. He set out intending to join his forces with those of France; but, at an early stage in his progress, tidings came of the death of King Louis. Thus left alone, Edward landed at Acre with a very small army, which yet upheld the renown of England. Edward remained in the Holy Land a little more than a year, during which time he was nearly assassinated by a poisoned dagger. This was the last of the Crusades. And now what was their effect on Europe? They cost six million lives, and caused untold misery and distress. They encouraged the vice of cruelty by the false notion that no mercy was due to infidels, and thus prompted the hateful religious wars nearer home. They also increased the political power of the Popes. But these were not the only results. Fighting was the business of that age; and there was something gained when, instead of contending for personal aims, men fought "for a shattered cross and a blackened altar," because of that which they symbolised. The Crusades checked the westward progress of Mohammedanism; and they drew the European nations nearer together by uniting them in a common cause. They also opened the East to commerce, and poured its riches into Europe. Besides this they drained the West of those restless spirits whose incessant quarrels disturbed society. Knowledge, too, was increased, superstition weakened, and bigotry enlightened by these expeditions. But perhaps the most important and enduring result of the Crusades was their influence on the Feudal System; for by weakening the power of the great barons, whose estates began to pass into the hands of wealthy commoners, they elevated the middle classes, and laid the foundation of those changes by which the House of Commons was afterwards established. The Holy City remains to this hour in the possession of Mohammedans, but benefits of which the wearers of the red cross never dreamed have been permitted to arise from the Crusades. 66 Chieftains, lead on! our hearts beat high, Lead on to Salem's towers! Who would not deem it bliss to die, Slain in a cause like ours? The brave who sleep in soil of thine, Die not entombed, but shrined, O Palestine! Chieftains, lead on! our hearts beat high For combat's glorious hour; Soon shall the red-cross banner fly On Salem's loftiest tower! We burn to mingle in the strife, 1 There were eight Crusades in all. 1. (1096-1100) Led by Godfrey of Bouillon, who took Jerusalem. 2. (1147-1149) Led by Louis VII. and the Emperor Conrad. 3. (1189-1193) Led by Richard Lion-heart; this was against Saladin. 4. (1202-1204) Led by Baldwin of Flanders. 5. (1217) Led by John of Brienne, titular king of Jerusalem. 6. (1228-1229) Led by Frederick II. 7. 1248-1254) and 8. 1268-1270) Led by Louis IX. taken prisoner, and cast into the dungeons of Rouen, where all trace of him was lost. There is every reason to suppose that he was murdered, and that, too, at the instigation of John, if not actually by his own hand. This foul deed cost the king one-third of his dominions; for when Philip summoned him to trial, at a court of his peers, as a vassal of the French crown, John refused to appear, and in his absence he was declared guilty, and condemned to forfeit his fiefs.2 |