aration of the book many histories, chronicles, and legends
have been consulted, and it is hoped that a fair degree of accuracy has
been attained where the narrative belongs to the domain of history. The
stories of Roland and the Cid, of course, are largely legendary, and
there is evidently a considerable admixture of fiction in the
contemporary accounts of Godfrey and Richard. The authors have
endeavored to follow recognized historical authority closely when
practicable; but historians differ so widely among themselves that it is
often impossible to determine which version of events is most reliable.
No important fact has been stated without good historical authority, but
one or two minor incidents of Godfrey's life and crusade were taken from
Tasso's "Jerusalem Delivered." In the treatment of a few unimportant
events, some imaginative details and circumstances strictly in harmony
with the meagre historical record of facts have been added to give color
and interest to the narrative. Also in several instances where the
subject-matter of a conversation or speech is purely legendary, or is
given by historians in the third person, it has been put in the first
person in order to render the story livelier and more vivid. No other
liberties have been taken with facts as related by historians of
learning and repute.

CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTORY xi

"THIS IS THE RULE FOR THE GALLANT KNIGHT" 1

A STEED! A STEED! 3

ROLAND AND OLIVER 7

THE CID RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR 51

THE CID'S WEDDING 84

GODFREY AND THE FIRST CRUSADE 89

THE TROUBADOUR 139

THE CARRIER DOVE 140

THE CAPTIVE KNIGHT 141

RICHARD COEUR-DE-LION 145

RICHARD'S LAMENT 196

THE LAST CRUSADER 198

THE CHEVALIER BAYARD