This story of Richard I begins with his fascinating parents, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry the II, founders of the Plantagenet line of English kings. Once Richard ascends to the throne the story moves to the Holy Land, scene of the second Crusade. When Richard arrived in Acre, he found that vastly more energy was spent in posturing and infighting among the crusaders than in actually fighting the Mohammedans, but through it all, he managed to maintain a glamorous appearance of chivalry and apparent victory.

RICHARD I OF ENGLAND.

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.