Chapter I: Preface

The author of this series has made it his special object to confine himself very strictly, even in the most minute details which he records, to historic truth. The narratives are not tales founded upon history, but history itself, without any embellishment, or any deviations from the strict truth so far as it can now be discovered by an attentive examination of the annals written at the time when the events themselves occurred. In writing the narratives, the author has endeavored to avail himself of the best sources of information which this country affords; and though, of course, there must be in these volumes, as in all historical accounts, more or less of imperfection and error, there is no intentional embellishment. Nothing is stated, not even the most minute and apparently imaginary details, without what was deemed good historical authority. The readers, therefore, may rely upon the record as the truth, and nothing but the truth, so far as an honest purpose and a careful examination have been effectual in ascertaining it.

CONTENTS.

Chapter Page

I. KING RICHARD'S MOTHER 13

II. RICHARD'S EARLY LIFE 35

III. FAIR ROSAMOND 53

IV. ACCESSION OF RICHARD TO THE THRONE 66

V. THE CORONATION 79

VI. PREPARATIONS FOR THE CRUSADE 89

VII. THE EMBARKATION 101

VIII. KING RICHARD AT MESSINA 117

IX. BERENGARIA 143

X. THE CAMPAIGN IN CYPRUS 160

XI. VOYAGE TO ACRE 185

XII. THE ARRIVAL AT ACRE 196

XIII. DIFFICULTIES 204

XIV. THE FALL OF ACRE 211

XV. PROGRESS OF THE CRUSADE 229

XVI. REVERSES 249

XVII. THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAINS 267

XVIII. THE BATTLE OF JAFFA 283

XIX. THE TRUCE 297

XX. THE DEPARTURE FROM PALESTINE 305

XXI. RICHARD MADE CAPTIVE 312

XXII. THE RETURN TO ENGLAND 324

ENGRAVINGS.

Page

MAP 14

PREACHING THE CRUSADES 19

PORTRAIT OF KING HENRY II. 49

VIEW OF WOODSTOCK 55

FINAL BURIAL OF ROSAMOND 64

PORTRAIT OF RICHARD I. 90

RICHARD PURSUING HIS JOURNEY 113

THE BATTERING-RAM 137

THE BALLISTA 139

THE CATAPULTA 140

THE LETTER 152

ROUTE OF RICHARD'S FLEET 164

KING RICHARD'S SEAL 167

RAMPARTS OF ACRE 189

THE ASSAULT 207

THROWING SHELLS 231

SALADIN'S PRESENT 294

CASTLE AND TOWN OF TIERNSTEIGN 321

KING RICHARD I.