Page:The child's pictorial history of England; (IA childspictorialh00corn).pdf/90

 without brave men for soldiers and sailors, to fight for us; but it is not the most useful quality a king can possess; and I think you will agree with me, when I tell you that Richard the First, instead of staying at home to make good laws, and take care of his subjects, went away to fight, or gain glory, as fighting was then called, in the Holy Land, while all things were going wrong in England, for the want of somebody to keep order.

14. But there was some excuse for him, as every body in those days thought that the most praiseworthy act princes and nobles could do, was to fight for their religion against all persons who believed differently from themselves; so Richard was very much admired by his people, although he did nothing for their real benefit; but, on the contrary, caused them very much misery, and great distress.

15. Another evil was that the Barons, who went with him to the Crusades, took all their own money as well as all they could get from their tenants, to support themselves and their fighting men abroad, so that the generality of the people were left very poor.

16. A great number, indeed, obtained their freedom, by giving up all they had to their lords; but then they were left without money or em