d down his throat and "tore out his heart." This story
is not without value, since it illustrates how marvelous legends grow
up around the lives of remarkable men.

The only English sentence that he was ever known to speak was when he
was in a raging passion. He then vented his wrath against an
impertinent Frnchman, in some broken but decidedly strong expressions
of his native tongue. Richard has been called "a spendid savage,"
having most of the faults and most of the virtues of such a savage.

The King's bravery in battle and his daring exploits gained for him
the flattering surname of Coeur de Lion. He had a right to it, for he
certainly possessed the heart of a lion, and he never failed to get
the lion's share. He might, however, have been called, in equal
truth, Richard the Absentee, since out of a nominal reign of ten years
he spent but a few months in England, the remaining time being
consumed in wars abroad.

180. Condition of Society.

Perhaps no better general picture of society in England during this
period can be found than that presented by Sir Walter Scott's novel,
"Ivanhoe." There every class appears. One sees the Saxon serf and
swineherd wearing the brazen collar of his master Cedric; the pilgrim
wandering from shrine to shrine, with the palm branch in his cap to
show that he has visited the Holy Land; the outlaw, Robin Hood, lying
in wait to strip rich churchmen and other travelers who were on their
way through Sherwood Forest. He sees, too, the Norman baron in his
castle torturing the aged Jew to extort his hidden gold; and the
steel-clad knights, with Ivanhoe at their head, splintering lances in
the tournament, presided over by Richard's brother, the traitorous
Prince John (S177).

181. Richard's Coronation.

Richard was on the Continent at the time of his father's death. His
first act was to liberate his mother from her long imprisonment at
Winchester (S177); his next, to place her at the head of the English
government until his arrival from Normandy. Unlike Henry II, Richard
did not issue a charter, or pledge of good government (S160). He,
however, took the usual coronation oath to defend the Church, maintain
justice, make salutary laws, and abolish evil customs; such an oath
might well be considered a charter in itself.

182. The Crusades (1190); how Richard raised Money.

At that period all western Europe was engaged in the series of wars
known as the Crusades. The object of