The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-09-23
THE CRUSADES.
{ Concluded from our last.

(Coneludea from our last.
The German boy was sent to the market
place in order to purchase provisions and
rs he had experienced the generosity Of his
master, he wasusually dressed with elegance
and nicely. The contrast Of the vulgar de-
ineanor and the handsome clothes Of the
Youth, attracted the attention of the ncuple
they demanded his name and condition and
lie replied, that he was the servant Of very
rich merchant, who three dars before had
arrived in the town. The boy saw that his
story was not credited, and on his return to
the king he advised his Immediate escape.
But Richard was i'll and weary, and totally
Unable to depart. The boy continued his
visits to the market place, and for some days
attracted no further notice but on one oc-
caslon the citizens saw in his girlie pair Of
such gloves as were usually worn By kings
The poor lad was immediately seized and
scourged, and the threat of cutting oat his
tongue if he did not tell the truth, drew from
him the secret of the real quality of his mas
ter The Austrian soldiers Immediately
surrounded the house of Richard, and the
King knowing the fruitlessness of resistance,
offered to resign his sword. The duke adj
vanced and received it, and in the excess Of
his JOY he treated him for awhile with re-
spect. But it was soon apparent that Plan
tagenet was his prisoner and not his guest
The king Of England was confined in Gyna-
sia till the following Easter, when he was
sold to the Emperor of Germany. Henry
VI. removed him TO q castle in Iyrol and
the prison was SO strong, that no one had
ever escaped from it. But in the mind of il
syrant, mountains form not impenetrbIc bar
riers, and walls are doubtful security. In
perial cruelty therefore commanded that
chr n II I,,
chamber OF Richard, and that he should ne
yer speak in private to any of his compan-
ions. Sometimes the royal captive calmed
his angry soul by singing the warlike deeds
OF the heroes OF romance. At other times
he diverted melancholy BY the composition
OF poems; in one of which lie declares, with
simple pathos, that his barons we'll knew
that he would have ransomed any OF his
companions who had been overtdken bv Il
misfortune similar to his own; {; bu. he would
not reproach them, although he was d pris-
Dner. Occasionally he forgot his nistortllnes,
and the apparent negligence Of his friends.
His native hilarity conquered the bitterness
of his spirit; he laughed at the frequent III
roxication OF his jailors, he sportcd the keen
ness OF his wit, and in the bosterousness of
hismerrment displayed his personal strength
and agility He was soon removed to Ha-
guenau, where he was treated with respect
by the emperor, and he was afterwards i'm
INJURED in a prison At Worms.
On the fair part of ancient warfare the
Crusades cast baleful influence. That tc-
nacious and delicate regard to veracity which
was a great characteristic of the true knight
must have lost much of its sensitiyeness by
the habitual and systematic violations of faith
with inhdcls. A liberal treatment of prison
ers was another remarkable point in the chi.
valric character. So firm was the trust q
cavaliers in each others honour, that it wa
common for victorious knight TO suffer hi
captive to return to his own country, in or
der to collect his ransom. In the days 0
Richard and Saladin, some lofty and roman
tic feelings of generosity took from war ma
ny of its horrors, and the Turks even aspirc
TO the distinction of Christian knighthood
But on most other occasions, as there was n
common tie of religion between the people
no principle mutually acknowledged, the cav
alters would place no trust in the word q
men whom they either hated or despiSed
In some cases a pure thirst of glory and
generous love of renown impclled the Euro
pcan soldiers into the east but bigotry an,
cruelty were the general and ruling passion
of holy warriors. When, indeed, the knigh
was errant in Palestine, as the price of fe
male smiles, the full effects of chivalry an
of holy wars were similar. But these in
stances were comparatively rare. The west
crn world prccipitated itself into Asia fror
fanatica, no. romantic motives; for pur