OnhisarrivalatAcre，hefoundthewholeofthechivalryofEuropetherebeforehim。GuyofLusignan，theKingofJerusalem，hadlongbeforecollectedtheboldKnightsoftheTemple，theHospital，andSt。John，andhadlaidsiegetoAcre，whichwasresolutelydefendedbytheSultanSaladin，withanarmymagnificentbothforitsnumbersanditsdiscipline。Fornearlytwoyearsthecrusadershadpushedthesiege，andmadeeffortsalmostsuperhumantodislodgetheenemy。Variousbattleshadtakenplaceintheopenfieldswithnodecisiveadvantagetoeitherparty，andGuyofLusignanhadbeguntodespairoftakingthatstrongpositionwithoutaidfromEurope。HisjoywasextremeonthearrivalofPhilipwithallhischivalry，andheonlyawaitedthecomingofCoeurdeLiontomakeonelastdecisiveattackuponthetown。WhenthefleetofEnglandwasfirstseenapproachingtheshoresofSyria，auniversalshoutarosefromtheChristiancamp；andwhenRichardlandedwithhistrain，onelouderstillpiercedtotheverymountainsofthesouth，whereSaladinlaywithallhisarmy。
　　ItmayberemarkedascharacteristicofthisCrusade，thattheChristiansandtheMoslemsnolongerlookeduponeachotherasbarbarians，towhommercywasacrime。Eachhostentertainedthehighestadmirationforthebraveryandmagnanimityoftheother，andintheiroccasionaltrucesmetuponthemostfriendlyterms。TheMoslemwarriorswerefullofcourtesytotheChristianknights，andhadnootherregretthantothinkthatsuchfinefellowswerenotMahomedans。TheChristians，withafeelingpreciselysimilar，extolledtotheskiesthenoblenessoftheSaracens，andsighedtothinkthatsuchgenerosityandvalourshouldbesulliedbydisbeliefintheGospelofJesus。Butwhenthestrifebegan，allthesefeelingsdisappeared，andthestrugglebecamemortal。
　　ThejealousyexcitedinthemindofPhilipbytheeventsofMessinastillrankled，andthetwomonarchsrefusedtoactinconcert。
　　Insteadofmakingajointattackuponthetown，theFrenchmonarchassaileditalone，andwasrepulsed。Richarddidthesame，andwiththesameresult。PhiliptriedtoseducethesoldiersofRichardfromtheirallegiancebytheofferofthreegoldpiecespermonthtoeveryknightwhowouldforsakethebannersofEnglandforthoseofFrance。
　　Richardmetthebribebyanother，andpromisedfourpiecestoeveryFrenchknightwhoshouldjointheLionofEngland。Inthisunworthyrivalrytheirtimewaswasted，tothegreatdetrimentofthedisciplineandefficiencyoftheirfollowers。Somegoodwasneverthelesseffected；forthemerepresenceoftwosucharmiespreventedthebesiegedcityfromreceivingsupplies，andtheinhabitantswerereducedbyfaminetothemostwoefulstraits。Saladindidnotdeemitprudenttoriskageneralengagementbycomingtotheirrelief，butpreferredtowaittilldissensionhadweakenedhisenemy，andmadehimaneasyprey。PerhapsifhehadbeenawareoftherealextentoftheextremityinAcre，hewouldhavechangedhisplan；
　　but，cutofffromthetown，hedidnotknowtheirmiserytillitwastoolate。AfterashorttrucethecitycapitulatedupontermssoseverethatSaladinafterwardsrefusedtoratifythem。Thechiefconditionswere，thatthepreciouswoodofthetruecross，capturedbytheMoslemsinJerusalem，shouldberestored；thatasumoftwohundredthousandgoldpiecesshouldbepaid；andthatalltheChristianprisonersinAcreshouldbereleased，togetherwithtwohundredknightsandathousandsoldiers，detainedincaptivitybySaladin。Theeasternmonarch，asmaybewellconceived，didnotsetmuchstoreonthewoodofthecross，butwasneverthelessanxioustokeepit，asheknewitspossessionbytheChristianswoulddomorethanavictorytorestoretheircourage。Herefused，therefore，todeliveritup，ortoaccedetoanyoftheconditions；andRichard，ashehadpreviouslythreatened，barbarouslyorderedalltheSaracenprisonersinhispowertobeputtodeath。
　　ThepossessionofthecityonlycausednewandunhappydissensionsbetweentheChristianleaders。TheArchdukeofAustriaunjustifiablyhoistedhisflagononeofthetowersofAcre，whichRichardnosoonersawthanhetoreitdownwithhisownhands，andtrampleditunderhisfeet。Philip，thoughhedidnotsympathisewiththeArchduke，waspiquedattheassumptionofRichard，andthebreachbetweenthetwomonarchsbecamewiderthanever。AfoolishdisputearoseatthesametimebetweenGuyofLusignanandConradofMontferratforthecrownofJerusalem。Theinferiorknightswerenotslowtoimitatetheperniciousexample，andjealousy，distrust，andill-willreignedintheChristiancamp。InthemidstofthisconfusiontheKingofFrancesuddenlyannouncedhisintentiontoreturntohisowncountry。Richardwasfilledwithindignation，andexclaimed，“Eternalshamelightonhim，andonallFrance，if，foranycause，heleavethisworkunfinished！“ButPhilipwasnottobestayed。HishealthhadsufferedbyhisresidenceintheEast，and，ambitiousofplayingafirstpart，hepreferredtoplaynoneatall，thantoplaysecondtoKingRichard。
　　LeavingasmalldetachmentofBurgundiansbehind，hereturnedtoFrancewiththeremainderofhisarmy；andCoeurdeLion，withoutfeeling，inthemultitudeofhisrivals，thathehadlostthegreatest，becamepainfullyconvincedthattherightarmoftheenterprizewasloppedoff。
　　Afterhisdeparture，Richardre-fortifiedAcre，restoredtheChristianworshipinthechurches，and，leavingaChristiangarrisontoprotectit，marchedalongthesea-coasttowardsAscalon。Saladinwasonthealert，andsenthislighthorsetoattacktherearoftheChristianarmy，whilehehimself，miscalculatingtheirweaknesssincethedefectionofPhilip，endeavouredtoforcethemtoageneralengagement。TherivalarmiesmetnearAzotus。Afiercebattleensued，inwhichSaladinwasdefeatedandputtoflight，andtheroadtoJerusalemleftfreeforthecrusaders。
　　Againdiscordexerteditsbalefulinfluence，andpreventedRichardfromfollowinguphisvictory。Hisopinionwasconstantlyopposedbytheotherleaders，alljealousofhisbraveryandinfluence；andthearmy，insteadofmarchingtoJerusalem，oreventoAscalon，aswasfirstintended，proceededtoJaffa，andremainedinidlenessuntilSaladinwasagaininaconditiontowagewaragainstthem。
　　Manymonthswerespentinfruitlesshostilitiesandasfruitlessnegotiations。Richard’swishwastorecaptureJerusalem；butthereweredifficultiesintheway，whichevenhisboldspiritcouldnotconquer。Hisownintolerablepridewasnottheleastcauseoftheevil；foritestrangedmanyagenerousspirit，whowouldhavebeenwillingtoco-operatewithhiminallcordiality。AtlengthitwasagreedtomarchtotheHolyCity；buttheprogressmadewassoslowandpainful，thatthesoldiersmurmured，andtheleadersmeditatedretreat。Theweatherwashotanddry，andtherewaslittlewatertobeprocured。Saladinhadchokedupthewellsandcisternsontheroute，andthearmyhadnotzealenoughtopushforwardamidsuchprivation。
　　AtBethlehemacouncilwasheld，todebatewhethertheyshouldretreatoradvance。Retreatwasdecidedupon，andimmediatelycommenced。Itissaid，thatRichardwasfirstledtoahill，whencehecouldobtainasightofthetowersofJerusalem，andthathewassoaffectedatbeingsonearit，andsounabletorelieveit，thathehidhisfacebehindhisshield，andsobbedaloud。
　　Thearmyseparatedintotwodivisions，thesmallerfallingbackuponJaffa，andthelarger，commandedbyRichardandtheDukeofBurgundy，returningtoAcre。BeforetheEnglishmonarchhadmadeallhispreparationsforhisreturntoEurope，amessengerreachedAcrewiththeintelligencethatJaffawasbesiegedbySaladin，andthat，unlessrelievedimmediately，thecitywouldbetaken。TheFrench，undertheDukeofBurgundy，weresoweariedwiththewar，thattheyrefusedtoaidtheirbrethreninJaffa。Richard，blushingwithshameattheirpusillanimity，calledhisEnglishtotherescue，andarrivedjustintimetosavethecity。HisverynameputtheSaracenstoflight，sogreatwastheirdreadofhisprowess。Saladinregardedhimwiththewarmestadmiration，andwhenRichard，afterhisvictory，demandedpeace，willinglyacceded。Atrucewasconcludedforthreeyearsandeightmonths，duringwhichChristianpilgrimsweretoenjoythelibertyofvisitingJerusalemwithouthindranceorpaymentofanytax。ThecrusaderswereallowedtoretainthecitiesofTyreandJaffa，withthecountryintervening。Saladin，withaprincelygenerosity，invitedmanyoftheChristianstovisitJerusalem；andseveraloftheleaderstookadvantageofhisoffertofeasttheireyesuponaspotwhichallconsideredsosacred。ManyofthemwereentertainedfordaysintheSultan’sownpalace，fromwhichtheyreturnedwiththeirtonguesladenwiththepraisesofthenobleinfidel。RichardandSaladinnevermet，thoughtheimpressionthattheydidwillremainonmanyminds，whohavebeendazzledbythegloriousfictionofSirWalterScott。Buteachadmiredtheprowessandnoblenessofsoulofhisrival，andagreedtotermsfarlessonerousthaneitherwouldhaveaccepted，hadthismutualadmirationnotexisted。[RichardleftahighreputationinPalestine。Somuchterrordidhisnameoccasion，thatthewomenofSyriausedittofrightentheirchildrenforagesafterwards。EverydisobedientbratbecamestillwhentoldthatKingRichardwascoming。Evenmensharedthepanicthathisnamecreated；andahundredyearsafterwards，wheneverahorseshiedatanyobjectintheway，hisriderwouldexclaim，“What！dostthouthinkKingRichardisinthebush？“]
　　TheKingofEnglandnolongerdelayedhisdeparture，formessengersfromhisowncountrybroughtimperativenewsthathispresencewasrequiredtodefeattheintriguesthatwerefomentingagainsthiscrown。HislongimprisonmentintheAustriandominionsandfinalransomaretoowellknowntobedweltupon。AndthusendedthethirdCrusade，lessdestructiveofhumanlifethanthetwofirst，butquiteasuseless。
　　Theflameofpopularenthusiasmnowburnedpaleindeed，andalltheeffortsofpopesandpotentateswereinsufficienttorekindleit。
　　Atlast，afterflickeringunsteadily，likealampexpiringinthesocket，itburnedupbrightlyforonefinalinstant，andwasextinguishedforever。
　　ThefourthCrusade，asconnectedwithpopularfeeling，requireslittleornonotice。AtthedeathofSaladin，whichhappenedayearaftertheconclusionofhistrucewithRichardofEngland，hisvastempirefelltopieces。HisbrotherSaifEddin，orSaphaddin，seizeduponSyria，inthepossessionofwhichhewastroubledbythesonsofSaladin。WhenthisintelligencereachedEurope，thePope，CelestineIII。judgedthemomentfavourableforpreachinganewCrusade。ButeverynationinEuropewasunwillingandcoldtowardsit。Thepeoplehadnoardour，andKingswereoccupiedwithmoreweightymattersathome。TheonlyMonarchofEuropewhoencourageditwastheEmperorHenryofGermany，underwhoseauspicestheDukesofSaxonyandBavariatookthefieldattheheadofaconsiderableforce。TheylandedinPalestine，andfoundanythingbutawelcomefromtheChristianinhabitants。UnderthemildswayofSaladin，theyhadenjoyedreposeandtoleration，andbothwereendangeredbythearrivaloftheGermans。Theylookedupontheminconsequenceasover-officiousintruders，andgavethemnoencouragementinthewarfareagainstSaphaddin。TheresultofthisCrusadewasevenmoredisastrousthanthelast——fortheGermanscontrivednotonlytoembittertheSaracensagainsttheChristiansofJudea，buttolosethestrongcityofJaffa，andcausethedestructionofnine-tenthsofthearmywithwhichtheyhadquittedEurope。AndsoendedthefourthCrusade。
　　Thefifthwasmoreimportant，andhadaresultwhichitsprojectorsneverdreamedof——nolessthanthesackingofConstantinople，andtheplacingofaFrenchdynastyupontheimperialthroneoftheeasternCaesars。EachsucceedingPope，howevermuchhemayhavedifferedfromhispredecessorsonotherpoints，zealouslyagreedinone，thatofmaintainingbyeverypossiblemeansthepapalascendancy。NoschemewassolikelytoaidinthisendeavourastheCrusades。AslongastheycouldpersuadethekingsandnoblesofEuropetofightanddieinSyria，theirownswaywassecuredoverthemindsofmenathome。Suchbeingtheirobject，theyneverinquiredwhetheraCrusadewasorwasnotlikelytobesuccessful，whetherthetimewerewellorillchosen，orwhethermenandmoneycouldbeprocuredinsufficientabundance。PopeInnocentIII。wouldhavebeenproudifhecouldhavebenttherefractoryMonarchsofEnglandandFranceintosomuchsubmission。ButJohnandPhilipAugustuswerebothengaged。Bothhaddeeplyoffendedthechurch，andhadbeenlaidunderherban，andbothwereoccupiedinimportantreformsathome；