The Crusades.

It is in the year 1697, during the reign of William II., that we first hear of the Crusade, or Holy War, which seems to have engrossed the thoughts of all the great Christian warriors of those days. But, perhaps, you have never heard of these Crusades, or the motive for which they were undertaken.

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Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine, is the country in which Jesus Christ was born, and lived, and died Palestine was therefore called the Holy Land; it was always reverenced and loved by Christians, and they frequently travelled thither to offer up their prayers. In process of time, a very fierce and warlike people, called Turks, became masters of this venerated country; and, as they were very great enemies, they oppressed them heavily, and all the sovereigns of Europe, as well as their subjects, were sadly grieved that this sacred spot should belong to these infidels, as they were called..

There lived at that time, in Amiens, a town of Picardy, in France, a man remarkable for his piety, zeal, and secluded life; he was called Peter the Hermit. He had made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and shocked to think that the holy city should be in the power of infidels, he went to Rome, and described the wretched condition of the Christians living in Palestine.

The Pope was very willing to subdue the Turks, the followers of Mahomed, and to rescue the followers of Christ he therefore sent Peter to all the states of Italy and France, to tell his mournful story, and describe the misery he had felt and seen.

By degrees, the different nations were aroused to fight in the cause; and as the Pope gave the soldiers leave to wear a figure of the cross on their shoulders, the enterprise was called the "Crusade." An order was also instituted, called the "The Knights of Jerusalem." You will often hear of such institutions, and must understand that such titles were bestowed by kings and potentates as marks of honour and distinction.

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Peter the Hermit himself led the first army that ceeded from Europe to Palestine; but this army was almost all cut to pieces, and Peter, with a few troops,

only escaped.

Godfrey of Bouillon, Robert of Normandy, and several other illustrious personages, followed with a

second army, in 1096. These conquered the Turkish sultan, Solyman; and then advancing to Jerusalem, they besieged and took it. The inhabitants of this city were barbarously murdered, the Christians alone being excepted.

After they had taken possession of the city, the crusaders began to think that they must have a king to govern it; and they chose Godfrey of Bouillon, a very brave and good man. The great princes, therefore, took him to the church of our Saviour, and were going to crown him; but he refused a crown of gold which they offered him, saying,-" They should never see him wear so magnificent a crown in the place where the Saviour of the world had been crowned with thorns." He also refused to be called king, and would only have the title of "Defender of the Holy Sepulchre."

After the lapse of a few years, however, the city of Jerusalem was taken again by the Saracens under Saladin their monarch. The European princes, immediately determined to recover it, and accordingly assembled their troops in great numbers; Richard I., then king of England, was inflamed with ardour at the glory he should acquire, and being fond of military exploits, surpassed all the other princes in zeal.

Valiant and enthusiastic, he too often resorted to oppressive and violent measures; so that a clergyman,

incensed at his tyranny, advised him to part with his three daughters, Pride, Avarice, and Love of Pleasure. "You are right, my friend," replied the king gaily; " and before I set out on my expedition, I will provide husbands for them all. I will give my pride to the lawyers; my avarice to the monks; and my love of pleasure to the clergy.”

Richard united his endeavours with Philip, king of France, in this holy cause. It is said that the third Crusade was the only military expedition in which a king of England and a king of France ever fought under the same banners. Richard, by every means in his power, compelled his subjects to assist him with money and soldiers.

The monarchs of England and France, and their armies, met on the borders of Burgundy, and afterwards took shipping, one at Genoa, the other at Marseilles, Overtaken by storms, they found shelter in the island of Sicily, and there some disagreements occurred between

them.

These were, however, made up, and at last the

armies arrived at Palestine.

The city of Acre was taken; and Philip, perhaps disgusted at finding himself outdone in valorous acts by Richard, returned to France, leaving some troops under the command of the Duke of Burgundy.

The battle which opened the way for the capture of