62 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

Mahometans and Christians, and that the road foras many as chose to go in pilgrimage to the HolySepulchre was open. 1 Several reasons combinedfor Richard’s conduct: 1st—Those decisions. 2nd.—The letters hastening him to- England. 3rd.—The dissensions. 2 4th.—His sickness, which kepton the increase. Any of the four would have done;but, in his mind, the first alone counted. And ifto remain in Palestine was utterly useless, whatright had he to defer his return home, where hispresence was absolutely required? His ladymother’s letter, as well as the trustiest of his noble-men, who brought it, declared his return to be, tothe last degree, urgent. Several messengers, in-cluding both church and laymen, and the cream ofhis peerage, had followed by different routes, tohurry him. Indeed, he had tarried too long already;and left time for rebellion and a wicked alliance tobe organized. His whole road, land and sea,blocked. The net was spread. Still little he orSaladin thought that, within little less than fourshort lunar months, both should be snatched awayfrom this world’s blue air; one to a dungeon, theother to his grave. 3 If that queen had only beenon a par with her sex in ability, the English less

1 Arab. Chron., 357. 2 Id., 358.

3 Michaud: Hist., ii. 451—454.