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preacher of the fifth crusade. This man equalled Peter the hermit in the ardour of his address, and Bernard in torical talents. He was aided in his attempts to raise an army by pope Innocent III., and the call of the church was eventually listened to with a ready obedience. France and the Low Countries chiefly supplied the force which composed the armies of the fifth crusade. But the crusaders turned aside from the path leading to Jerusalem. Venice had undertaken to convey the armies into Asia, and Arrigo Dandolo, an old man of upwards of ninety years of age, who had almost lost his sight, and who was doge of Venice, was the soul of the enterprise. Arrigo Dandolo, however, saw more deeply than most of his contemporaries into political intrigues, and he persuaded the crusaders to conquer Zara, a Dalmatian city, for the Venetians. After this exploit, they entered into a treaty with young Alexis Commenus, for restoring his father to the throne of Constantinople, and finally, they seized upon the Greek empire for themselves, and placed one of their captains, Baldwin, count of Flanders, upon the throne.

The crusaders, to escape the bann of the pope, for the non-fulfilment of their enterprise, sent him a letter, stating that they apprehended so great a multitude would be burdensome to the Holy Land; that they thought it expedient to settle the disquiets that existed in Constantinople, in order to secure for themselves the necessary supplies and assistance for future proceedings; extolling the riches of Constantinople, and the fertility of the country which they were led to appropriate to themselves; and finally, they concluded with entreating his holiness to hold a council at Constantinople, as his predecessors had done in ancient times.

Pope Innocent knew too well what belonged to the pontifical character not to publish the bann against the crusaders, who, instead of conquering the infidels, deposed those called Christian princes; but, in considering the circumstances, as he said, he again absolved them. He saw, in truth, that the capture of Constantinople promised greater advantages than any victory over the Mohammedans could confer; for it opened a way to the establishment of the supremacy of the Romish see over the churches of the East. Innocent, however, declined visiting Constantinople.

Notwithstanding the French had failed

in the rescue of the Holy Land from the Moslems, their conquests over the Greeks had an indirect influence in promoting the welfare of the Christians in Palestine. The Mussulmans were alarmed at their power, and Saphadin gladly concluded a truce for six years, which was the chief result of this enterprise, as repects the Holy Land. A.D. 1206.

THE SIXTH CRUSADE.
From land to land

The ancient thrones of Christendom are stuff
For occupation of a magic wand,
And 'tis the pope that wields it.

WORDSWORTH.

The sound of war was not long hushed to peace. The armies of the cross and the crescent soon met again on the fields of Palestine. Where the feet of the Redeemer of mankind had walked, where he had published peace and salvation to a guilty world, there superstition and infidelity again raised the war cry-again strove for empire.

Before the truce with Saphadin had expired, Mary, the daughter of Isabella, by Conrad of Tyre, was acknowledged queen of Jerusalem, and Philip Augustus of France brought about her marriage with John de Brienne, who was held in high estimation among the knights of Europe, both for his wisdom in council and experience in war. The hopes of the Christians in Palestine were so exalted by this union, that they refused to prolong the truce with Saphadin, upon which the Sultan marched an army to the neighbourhood of Tripoli, and threatened hostilities. John de Brienne opposed the Moslem with great bravery, and saved his states from the annihilation with which they were threatened; but he foresaw the future overthrow of the Christian kingdom in Palestine, and appealed to Rome for succour.

Honorius III., who had succeeded to pope Innocent, did not lightly regard this appeal. Bent on a crusade, he sent his commands to every European sovereign. He forbade the king of France to aid his son in the conquest of England, threatened the king of Scotland if he wavered in his allegiance to the English crown, summoned the Greek emperor of Thessalonica to liberate his prisoners, and required both the king of Arragon, and the young count of Toulouse to purchase a reconciliation with the church by aiding against the Saracens.

Nor was an appeal to the conscience overlooked. Honorius reminded the

several monarchs that the time was come when a successful effort might be made to rescue Palestine out of the hands of the infidel, and that, while those who should fight faithfully under the banners of the cross would obtain a crown of glory, such as refused to enlist under those banners would be subjected to everlasting torments.

It is remarkable that Honorius used one argument in favour of the crusades which has been often urged by Protestant writers against his own church. "The_Mohammedan heresy," said he, "the Beast foretold by the Spirit, will not live for ever; its age is 666." He concluded with an assurance that the Saviour would condemn those for gross ingratitude and infidelity, who neglected to march to his succour, at a time when he was in danger of being driven from the kingdom which he had purchased with his blood.

irregularities. Wandering over the country, they committed the greatest enormities, and were cut off in parties by the suffering and incensed inhabitants. The king of Hungary, moreover, was so disgusted with the campaign, that he refused to remain in Palestine; and the consequence of this defection was, that the king of Jerusalem, the duke of Austria, and the master of the hospitallers took up a defensive position on the plain of Cesarea; while the Templar and Teutonic knights seized upon Mount Carmel, where they surrounded themselves with fortifications for fear of the Saracens.

During the next spring, their fears were relieved by the arrival of a reinforcement of crusaders from the upper parts of Germany. The chiefs of the crusades, however, now resolved to withdraw their troops from Palestine, and to carry on the war in Egypt.

Damietta was the first object of attack, and the castle or fortress, which was supposed to command the town, soon fell into their hands. In the mean time, some of the best soldiery of Europe appeared at the mouth of the Nile, to aid them in their operations. Italy sent thither her choicest soldiers, under the legates Pelagius and de Courcon; France sent her valiant sons, under the counts of Nevers and Le March, the archbishop of Bourdeaux, the bishops of Meaux, Autun, and Paris; while England sent her chivalrous troops under the celebrated warriors, the earls of Arundel, Chester, and Salisbury.

This crusade was preached by Robert de Courcon, whose fanaticism was as fervid as that of the hermit and Foulkes; but whose eloquence fell short of both. De Courcon invited all to assume the cross, and enrolled among the list of adventurers in this enterprise, men, women, and children, and even the old, the blind, the lame, and the diseased. The multitude of crusaders was very great, and the offerings of money to carry on the war were immense. The crusade was sanctioned by the emperor of Constantinople, the kings of France, England, Hungary, Jerusalem, Arragon, and other countries, who, by their repre- The loss of Damietta now appeared insentatives in the council of Lateran, de- evitable, and Khamel, the sultan of Syria, clared war against the infidels, and pro-apprehensive that the crusaders would nounced it to be the sacred duty of Chris- advance to Jerusalem, issued orders to tendom to take up arms against them. destroy the fortifications, to prevent its As an attraction, the usual privileges, dis-retention as a place of defence. At the pensations, and indulgences, were grant- same time, the Saracen leaders proposed ed to the crusaders, and Honorius con- terms of peace. They offered to rebuild tributed thirty thousand pounds towards the walls of Jerusalem, and to liberate all defraying the expenses. the prisoners in Syria and Egypt. They proposed, also, to retain only the castles of Karac and Monetreale as necessary for the safe passage of pilgrims and merchants in their intercourse with Mecca; while, as an equivalent for these concessions, they only required the immediate evacuation of Egypt.

At the period of the arrival of the crusaders in Asia (A.D. 1216) the sons of Saphadin were at the head of affairs in Syria, their father having retired from the fatigues of royalty. They chiefly consisted of Hungarians and the soldiers of Lower Germany. They landed at Acre. Although unprepared to encounter so formidable a force, the Saracen chiefs advanced to Naplosa, the ancient Shechem. It required, however, but a small force to resist the crusaders. They were already, indeed, half conquered by their

Success had made the crusaders arrogant. They refused to listen to terms of peace, however advantageous to their cause, and resolved to prosecute the siege with vigour. Damietta was taken by them after they had besieged it for a

year and a half, and they found only three inhabitants out of the seventy thousand they had originally shut up within the town: so resolute had been their defence, so devoted their patriotism. A.D. 1218.

A treaty of peace was again proposed by the Saracen chiefs, and again scornfully refused by the crusaders. Depending on their prowess, they resolved on an immediate attack upon Grand Cairo, and they dreamed of reducing the whole of Egypt, and finally, of subjecting all the Mohammedan states on the shores of the

Mediterranean. It was but a dream.. A few months' campaign on the shores of the Nile dispersed their visions of future conquest. They were reduced to the necessity of asking permission to return into Palestine, and to purchase their safety by giving up all their acquisitions in Egypt. On their arrival in Palestine, the barons of Syria and the military orders retired to Acre, where they awaited an attack from the enraged Saracens, and the crusaders returned into Europe. The Holy Land was still possessed by the Moslems!

E. F.

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ENGLISH HISTORY.

CHARLES I.

CHARLES I. succeeded his father as monarch of Great Britain, March 27, 1625, being then twenty-four years old. If the reader calls to mind the principal circumstances of the late reign, he will be aware that king James left no easy task to his successor. The crown was pressed with debts, and in need of pecuniary supplies, which the parliament was unwilling to grant; the people, and the leaders in parliament, desired the removal of abuses, with the confirmation of certain privileges which the late king was unwilling to bestow. His successor had

not only been educated with the same high ideas of his personal prerogative; but possessed a firmness of temper, strengthened by the warmth natural to youth, which rendered him still more likely, than his father, to come into collision with his subjects, while his superior regard to moral character gave him increased influence.

There was not that change in the measures of government which is usual at the beginning of a new reign. The duke of Buckingham possessed the full confidence of the new monarch, and had still greater influence over him than over his father. The course of policy pursued

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was the same as in the late reign: thus to gratify the favourite, Charles burdened himself with a Spanish war, which all matters, both at home and abroad, rendered it desirable for him to avoid.

One of the earliest measures was to conclude the marriage of the king with the French princess, Henrietta Maria. The union was solemnized at Paris, by proxy, early in May; but the new queen did not arrive in London till the middle of June, when public ceremonies were prevented by one of the plagues then frequent in the metropolis. More than forty thousand died of pestilence during the year, in London, besides twenty thousand carried off by other diseases—a large proportion of the inhabitants.

On June 18, the parliament assembled, when the king called attention to his pecuniary wants; as, in addition to the debts of the late king, and the present expenses of the court, money was needed to carry on the war with Spain. But the opponents of the court in the House of Commons had become a regular and active body, and were seriously alarmed respecting Popery; for, in addition to the increased danger arising from a marriage with a princess of that religion, many of the clergy, most in favour, did not hesitate to avow tenets, and to countenance proceedings, which, in many respects, were opposed to those of the English Reformers of the preceding century, so as to be at variance with the literal statements of the Articles and Homilies of the English church, and which, if followed out to their full results, must lead to Popery itself. This alarm evidently was the national feeling, and did not arise from a factious spirit, as probably some other proceedings did. The events of the last century, in Europe, had led to a decided horror of Popery, wherever that faith was not the dominant religion. Those actuated only by worldly motives, saw its hostility to all improvement and freedom, whether mental or corporeal; those who knew the importance of true religion, regarded Popery as destructive to the soul, and both classes considered any probability of a return to Popery as a national evil. Under these feelings, one of the first steps of the House of Commons was to petition the king to enforce the laws against the Popish recu sants, and the seminarist missionaries secretly at work in England. Nothing could be less welcome to Charles, who, at his

marriage, had secretly engaged to tolerate those who professed Popery in his dominions. It then proceeded against Dr. Montague, who had avowed the doctrines already noticed, in a manner which the parliament thought was a contempt of the house. As to money, only a small grant was made, wholly inadequate to the expense of the war entered into by desire of the late parliament; and the customs and duties on merchandize were only voted for a year, instead of for life : this was a departure from the usual course, and justly resented by the king. Although the commerce of England was at that time in its infancy, as appears by the annexed representation of the London custom house as it then stood, the duties on exports and imports formed a considerable part of the royal revenue. About 200,000l. per annum were received from the whole kingdom, more than one half of which was collected in the port of London.

In July, the increase of the plague caused the parliament to be adjourned to Oxford, where angry debates ensued. The king was charged with dissimulation in having pardoned Romish priests, after promising to enforce the penal laws; the parliament was charged with breaking the pledge given to support a war with Spain. Buckingham interfered, but brought down personal attacks on his own conduct, and the king dissolved the parliament to prevent the impeachment of his favourite. In the whole, sums amounting to half a million were granted by this parliament; one reason for not giving more, seems to have been an apprehension that the grants might be applied to assist the French king against his Protestant subjects. This feeling was much strengthened by the following occurrence. king of France being engaged in hostilities with that important class of his subjects, required from England and Holland the aid promised by treaty. Seven English merchant vessels were pressed, and sent with a ship of war, under the command of admiral Pennington, to join the French fleet. The sailors understanding that they were to act against their fellow Protestants, refused to obey they twice returned to England. At last the admiral was required to enforce obedience, and to give up the ships to the French. He executed his orders; but one vessel was brought back to England, and

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the crews of the others abandoned them, declaring they would rather be hanged than engage in such a service; the ships were retained, and employed by the French against Rochelle.

with the French Protestants followed, and he promised to assist the war for the recovery of the Palatinate.

In February, 1626, the king was crowned, after which the second parliament of this reign met. Charles had contrived that some of Buckingham's most active opponents should be excluded, by nominating them for sheriffs, which rendered them ineligible for sitting in the House of Commons. The prevalence of feelings adverse to the court, was at once shown, by appointing committees for matters relative to religion, grievances, and the causes and remedies for evils. The prevalence of Popery, and the secret advance of principles nearly allied thereto, engaged the attention of the first. Another attack was made upon Dr. Montague, who had openly shown his desire to palliate the errors of Rome, and to admit the authority of that church. Laud entreated the king to interpose in his favour; but the king declined to do so. The second committee pointed out sixteen abuses, particularly that of purveying or taking pro

Charles carried on hostilities against Spain with the activity of youth, and the firmness which was his natural temperament. The increase of his expenditure thus incurred, made him more dependent on his parliament, and added to the probability of collision with the legislative body. He was not then aware how much he thereby endangered his power. The fitting out an expedition was hastened, while money was raised by loan, and on every pretext that could be resorted to. In October, a fleet and army sailed to attack Cadiz; but after an ineffectual attempt, the expedition returned in December, having lost many of the troops by disease. Buckingham proceeded to the continent to borrow money in Holland on the crown jewels, and to negotiate treaties with the United Provinces and Denmark, for assistance in recovering the Palatinate. But he was forbidden to go to Paris, where, notwith-visions for the royal household, at fixed standing the marriage, an unfriendly feeling towards England prevailed, increased by the proceedings of the French rulers towards their Protestant subjects, whom the English nation desired to support; and by the popular feeling having compelled the king to enforce more strictly the laws against the Romanists. He was the less averse to do this, on account of the annoying conduct of the priests and French attendants of the queen, who endeavoured to disgust her with England. Among other unseemly acts, they had caused her to walk to Tyburn, to honour, by such a penance, the memory of the Romish priests who had been there executed as traitors. At length, the king was roused; acting with decision, in the year following the marriage, he sent away nearly the whole of the queen's French attendants, and formed another household for her. This tended to restore harmony; after which, the queen soon acquired and exerted influence over the king. The conduct of those dismissed was ludicrous and disgraceful; they plundered the queen's wardrobe, and left her absolutely destitute of common clothing.

Sir Dudley Carleton was sent ambassador to France, with power to use a tone decisive and favourable to the Protestant interest. Richelieu gave way; peace

and unfair prices, within sixty miles of the court; and complained that the customs and duties were collected without the authority of parliament. The king urged the grant of a supply, the parliament demanded his promise to redress grievances; but the firmness and threats of Charles obtained the vote of a subsidy: in the interim, the House of Commons resolved to impeach the duke of Buckingham.

A dispute with the House of Lords followed. The king availed himself of the marriage of lord Maltravers without the royal licence, to imprison lord Arundel, father of that peer, and thus prevent his acting against Buckingham. The lords demanded his release, when the king was forced to comply, and also to allow the attendance in parliament of the earl of Bristol, who immediately exhibited articles of accusation against Buckingham, which were met by an attempt to silence him on a charge of high treason. The House of Lords, however, resolved that each should be heard. The charges against Buckingham related to his conduct in regard to the Spanish match, which, it was alleged, failed from his moral and political misconduct. The charge against Bristol was founded on allegations respecting his conduct in the same matter, which were satisfactorily

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