the common soldiers in repairing and strengthening the walls. One day, while so engaged, having asked the Duke of Austria to assist him, Leopold replied that his father was not a mason; upon which Richard raised his hand and struck him. Leopold was very angry at this, and left the army vowing vengeance.

Richard fought many battles; and wherever the danger was the greatest and the battle raged the fiercest, there were his tall war-horse and the gleam of his battleaxe to be seen. He had almost fought his way to Jerusalem, when so violent were the quarrels among the Crusaders, that he was obliged to retreat. He was much grieved at this, and turned away his face from the Holy City, saying, "Those who are not willing to rescue, are not worthy to view the Sepulchre of Christ!"

Shortly after this a truce of three years

was agreed upon between Richard and Saladin. Richard at once prepared to return to his own kingdom, as news had reached him that his brother John and Philip of France were plotting against him.

The ship in which he sailed was wrecked on the coast of Italy. Wishing to pass through Germany, he dressed himself as a merchant; but his rank having been found out, he was taken prisoner by his old enemy Leopold, who sold him to the Emperor of Germany. After he had been in prison for thirteen months, he was discovered by a minstrel named Blondel, who sung a favourite air beneath his prison window.

As soon as Richard returned to England, he raised an army to punish Philip of France for attacking his dominions while he was absent. While besieging a castle in France, an arrow pierced his shoulder, which caused his death.

JOHN.

1199-1216.

Arthur of Brittany, son of Geoffrey, the third son of Henry III., was at Richard's death the right heir to the throne. He was at that time a boy of twelve years of age. The English people knew little about him, so that John met with no opposition when he claimed the crown of England. When Arthur was sixteen years of age, relying upon a promise of assistance from Philip of France, he determined to assert his claim to the English crown; and having collected a few Norman and Breton knights, he boldly took the field. For a short time all went on well with his cause; but while besieging the Castle of Mirabel, he was surprised by John, who defeated his followers, took him prisoner, and placed him in the

Castle of Rouen. John, having now got Arthur in his power, determined to put out He gave orders to this effect to

his eyes.

Hubert de Burgh, who hired two wicked men to do the deed. When these men came with their hot irons, so piteous were the cries and so plaintive the entreaties of the poor youth, that they had not the heart to do as they had been ordered. When the King heard of this he was very angry, and went himself at midnight to the dark dungeon where Arthur was confined. ing his uncle at such an hour, he at once knew the object of his visit, and cried out for mercy. John made no answer, but stabbed him to the heart, and, attaching some heavy weights to his feet, he ordered the body to be thrown into the river Seine.

See

This wicked act caused John to be hated by every one. The Norman barons refused to assist him when Normandy was