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CHAPTER LV.

Shipwreck of Richard.-He falls into the hands of his Enemies, and suffers Imprisonment.-Story of his faithful Minstrel.

1. ON the 9th of October, 1192, Richard set out on his disastrous voyage. His daring courage had made a deep impression on the minds of the Infidels. Long after he had ceased to trouble the world, the Saracen mothers would bring their stubborn children to obedience by the threat of his coming; and the horseman would upbraid his starting steed, by the exclamation, "Ha, fool! dost thou think Richard is in the bush?"

2. After many storms at sea, Richard was at last shipwrecked on the coast of Dalmatia. He now put on the disguise of a pilgrim, hoping to pass through Germany without being known. But the traveller displayed a generosity and profuseness more suitable to the king he was, than to the pilgrim he wished to appear.

3. The intelligence soon spread through Germany, that Hugh the Merchant was no other than Richard Plantagenet. The king arrived, however, without molestation, at Frisak, near Saltzburg; and the governor there sent one of his knights to discover who he was.

4. This man was by birth a Norman, and instantly knew the king; but instead of betraying him, he presented him with a horse, and entreated him to fly and save himself. Accompanied by a boy and one other attendant, he reached a town near Vienna.

LV.-1. What impt ssion did Richard leave upon the Saracens? 2, 5, 4, 5, 6. Relate

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STORY OF HIS FAITHFUL MINSTREL.-1191-1192.

5. Here he entered an inn, and that no suspicion might be ex cited concerning his rank, busied himself in turning the spit; but he forgot to conceal a splendid ring which he wore on his finger; and a man who had seen him at Acre knew him, and gave information to his bitter enemy, the Duke of Austria, who had never forgotten or forgiven the insult offered him after the capture of that city.

6. The duke meanly seized the opportunity of vengeance, which chance afforded him, and threw the unfortunate prince into prison. His place of confinement was long kept concealed. There is a very pretty story told of the manner in which it was discovered; whether it be true or not we cannot say, but at any rate it is worth repeating.

7. Richard was a great friend of the Gay Science, as minstrelsy was called, and often practised the arts of song and music himself. Blondel de Nesle, a favorite minstrel, who had attended his person, devoted himself to discover the place of his confinement. He wandered in vain from castle to palace, till he had learned that a strong fortress, on the banks of the Danube, was watched with peculiar strictness, as if containing some prisoner of distinction.

8. The minstrel took his harp, and, approaching the castle as near as he durst, came so near the walls as to hear the captive soothing his imprisonment with music. Blondel touched his harp; the prisoner heard and was silent; upon this the minstrel played the first part of a tune known to Richard, who instantly played the second part; and thus the faithful servant knew that the captive was no other than his royal master.

his adventures till his seizure by the Duke of Austria.. 7, 8. How was it ascertained where he was confined? 9, 10, 11, 12. Relate his story till his release.

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9. But this knowledge was of little immediate advantage to Richard; for when the news reached the Emperor of Germany, he compelled the duke to surrender his prisoner. The treatment of Richard was now worse than before; he was committed to a gloomy dungeon and loaded with chains.

10. How long he remained here, we do not exactly know; but after a while he was taken to the town of Worms, where a meeting of the princes of Germany, called a diet, was to be held. While Richard was on the road to this place, he was met by some persons sent by his mother to attend upon him.

11. He received them very cordially, and inquired with the greatest kindness for all his friends. When they told him of his brother's behavior, of which we shall tell you more particularly in a short time, he was extremely shocked; but soon recovering his cheerfulness, said, with a smile, "My brother John is not made for conquering kingdoms."

12. The emperor, to justify his conduct, charged Richard before the diet with many crimes committed in Palestine. But Richard defended himself so eloquently, and pathetically, that many persons shed tears on hearing him, and all were convinced of the malice of his accusers. The emperor was compelled to treat him better, and to agree to set him at liberty on payment of a ransom, equal to about one and a half million of dollars.

CHAPTER LVI.

Explanation of the terms Interdict and Excommunication.—Richard returns to England.-Pardons his brother John.

1. WHEN the news of this agreement reached France, it threw Philip into the greatest consternation, and he sent a secret message to Prince John, “bidding him take care of himself, for the devil was unchained." Philip and John then tried to bribe the Emperor of Germany to keep Richard a prisoner a year longer.

2. Being exceedingly avaricious, he longed to accept their offer; but he dared not do so, for the pope, considering Richard as the champion of Christendom, threatened the emperor with excommunication if he did not fulfil his engagement.

3. There were two punishments by the infliction of which the pope endeavored to maintain his authority. One was by forbidding, or interdicting, divine service to be publicly performed. When a nation was under an interdict, as it is called, the churches were shut; the bells were not rung, the dead were buried in ditches and holes, without the performance of the funeral service; diversions of all kinds were forbidden, and everything wore an appearance of mourning and gloom.

LVI.-1, 2. What did Philip do when he heard of the treaty for Richard's release? What saved Richard from his machinations? 3. What was an interdict? 4. What was excom

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RICHARD RETURNS TO ENGLAND.-1194.

4. Excommunication was a worse sentence still, and was levelled at individuals, as an interdict was at a collection of people, such as a village, a state, or a nation. A person who was excommunicated was considered as unholy and polluted; every one was forbidden to come near him, or render him any friendly offices. Thus, if the sentence could have been enforced, it was possible for the most potent monarch to become, by a single mandate of the pope, a miserable outcast.

5. Queen Eleanor, as you may well believe, and everybody in England who loved King Richard,-and there were many who did, -used every means to raise the money required for his ransom. A general tax was levied to procure it, but this not proving sufficient, the nobles voluntarily contributed a quarter of their yearly incomes, and the silver that was in the churches and monasteries was melted down.

6. When the money was collected, Queen Eleanor took it herself to Germany, and had the happiness of receiving her son, and bringing him to England. He landed at Sandwich on the 20th of March, 1194, after an absence of four years. He was received with overflowings of joy, and in London with such a display of wealth, that the Germans who accompanied him exclaimed, "If our emperor had known the riches of England, your ransom, O king, would have been much greater!"

7. After Richard had settled the affairs of his kingdom, he set

munication? 6. When did Richard reach England? 7, 8. How did he treat his brother John?

DEATH OF RICHARD.-1199.

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out for Normandy, to defend it from an attack with which it was threatened by Philip. On the morning after his landing at Barfleur, Prince John suddenly rushed into his apartment, and, throwing himself at his feet, implored his forgiveness.

8. This the king immediately granted, though he could not feel any affection for such a brother. Indeed, he soon after said to some of his attendants, "I wish I may forget my brother's injuries as soon as he will forget my pardon of them."

CHAPTER LVII.

Death of Richard the Lion-hearted.

1. THE remainder of Richard's life was passed in a succession of wars and truces with the King of France. At last, through the mediation of the pope, negotiations were commenced for a more lasting peace. But these were brought to an abrupt conclusion by the death of Richard.

2. The Viscount of Limoges, a vassal of the king, had found a considerable treasure on his lands. Richard claimed this, as of his right as sovereign; and on the viscount's refusing to give up more than a part, declared positively that he would have the whole, and immediately laid siege to the castle of Chalus, where the treasure was supposed to be lodged.

3. The garrison offered to surrender the castle, and all that was in it, provided they might march out with their arms. Richard vindictively refused their offer, protesting he would take the place by force, and put them all to death.

4. On the 28th of March, 1199, as he was taking a survey of the castle, and giving directions for the assault, he was wounded by an arrow from the bow of Bertrand de Gourdon. The wound appeared trifling at first, but in a few days the life of the king was despaired of. Before he died the castle was taken, and all the garrison were instantly hanged, excepting Bertrand, whom Richard ordered to be brought into his presence. "What harm have I done to you," said the king to him, "that you should thus have attempted my death?"

5. You killed my father and brother with your own hands," replied the man; "and intended to have killed me, and I am ready to suffer any torments you can invent, with joy, since I have been so lucky as to kill one who has brought so many miseries on mankind."

6. Richard, conscious of the truth of this bold reply, bore it with patience, and ordered the man to be set at liberty; but this command was not obeyed, and Bertrand was put to death as soon as the king had expired. Richard died on the 6th of April, 1199, in the

LVII.-1, 2, 3, 4. Relate the particulars of Richard's death. 5. Relate the particulars of the interview between him and his slayer. 6. When did Richard die? How long did How long reign? 7. To whom did he leave his possessions'

he live?