Chapter 33

PART III.
THE KNIGHTS OF ENGLISH HISTORY. CHAPTER XXXIII.
KING RICHARD AND THE THIRD CRUSADE. THE Crusades were the mightiest or rather the most ambitious
undertaking of the chivalry of Europe. From the year 1096 for more
than a century the knights of all countries looked to the Holy Land as
a field for winning their spurs and obtaining pardon of their sins.
And it is most natural that in giving a picture of English chivalry as
it is shown in history that we should give a description of King
Richard's exploits in Palestine.
In the last decade of the twelfth century Richard I. of England took
the cross, which had come to him as a sort of legacy from his
father, and sailed for Antioch, which was being besieged by the
Christians, to assist in the war in the Holy Land. At the same time
Philip Augustus of France and Frederick Barbarossa joined the
Crusaders. Frederick was drowned in a river of Cilicia, and his
force had so dwindled that when they reached Antioch hardly a tenth of
the number were left that had started. Philip of France reached
Antioch with his army, and there, as we shall learn later, he fought
with the Turk and quarrelled with the Christian for a time, until he
finally set sail for France without having accomplished the capture of
the Holy City. As for Richard, he was not more successful, and
although his deeds were so glorious as to cover him with honor, he was
obliged to return home, leaving Jerusalem still in the hands of
infidels. THE EXPLOITS OF KING RICHARD. Now as the ships were proceeding, some being before others, two of
the three first, driven by the violence of the winds, were broken on
the rocks near the port of Cyprus the third, which was English, more
speedy than they, having turned back into the deep, escaped the peril.
Almost all the men of both ships got away alive to land, many of
whom the hostile Cypriotes slew, some they took captive, some,
taking refuge in a certain church, were besieged. Whatever also in the
ships was cast up by the sea fell a prey to the Cypriotes. The
prince also of that island coming up, received for his share the
gold and the arms; and he caused the shore to be guarded by all the
armed force he could summon together, that he might not permit the
fleet which followed to approach, lest the king should take again what
had been thus stolen from him. Above the port was a strong city, and
upon a natural rock, a high and fortified castle. The whole of that
nation was warlike and accustomed to live by theft. They placed
beams and planks at the entrance of the port, across the passage,
the gates, and entrances; and the whole land with one mind prepared
themselves for a conflict with the English. God so willed that the
cursed people should receive the