But Richard did not stay in England.  Far, far over the seas there is a country called Palestine.  There our Lord was born, lived, and died.  Christian people in all ages must think tenderly and gratefully of that far-off country.  But at this time it had fallen into the hands of the heathen.  It seemed to Christian people in those days that it would be a terrible sin to allow wicked heathen to live in the Holy Land.  So they gathered together great armies of brave men from every country in the world and sent them to try to win it back.  Many brave deeds were done, many terrible battles fought, but still the heathen kept possession.

Then brave King Richard of England said he too would fight for the city of our Lord.  So he gathered together as much money as he could find, and as many brave men as would follow him, and set out for the Holy Land.  Before he went away he called two bishops who he thought were good and wise men, and said to them:  “Take care of England while I am gone.  Rule my people wisely and well, and I will reward you when I return.”  The bishops promised to do as he asked.  Then he said farewell and sailed away.

Now King Richard had a brother who was called Prince John.  Prince John was quite different from King Richard in every way.  He was not at all a nice man.  He was jealous of Richard because he was king, and angry because he himself had not been chosen to rule while Richard was in Palestine.  As soon as his brother had gone, John went to the bishops and said, “You must let me rule while the King is away.”  And the bishops allowed him to do so.  Deep down in his wicked heart John meant to make himself king altogether, and never let Richard come back any more.

A very sad time now began for the Saxons.  John tried to please the haughty Normans because they were great and powerful, and he hoped they would help to make him king.  He thought the best way to please them was to give them land and money.  So as he had none of his own (he was indeed called John Lackland) he took it from the Saxons and gave it to the Normans.  Thus many of the Saxons once more became homeless beggars, and lived a wild life in the forests, which covered a great part of England at this time.

Now among the few Saxon nobles who still remained, and who had not been robbed of their lands and money, there was one called Robert, Earl of Huntingdon.  He had one son also named Robert, but people called him Robin.  He was a favorite with every one.  Tall, strong, handsome, and full of fun, he kept his father’s house bright with songs and laughter.  He was brave and fearless too, and there was no better archer in all the countryside.  And with it all he was gentle and tender, never hurting the weak nor scorning the poor.