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vigour against Saladin, whom he defeated near Csesarea, and, having made a truce, he embarked in a vessel which was wrecked on the coast of Italy. He then travelled in disguise through part of Germany, but being discovered by Leopold, Duke of Austria, he was made pris-oner and sent to the Emperor Henry II., who had him confined in a castle, until discovered by his favourite minstrel as related below. I give the original diction :—
" The Englishmen were more than a whole yeare without hearing any tydings of their king, or in what place he was kept prisoner. He had trained up in his service a Rimer or Minstrill called Blondel de Nesle, who (so saith the manuscript of Old Poesies, and one Auncient Manuscript French Chronicle), being so long without the sight of his lord, his life seemed wearisome to him, and he became confounded with melancholy. Knowne it was that he came backe from th e Holy Land but none could tell in what country he arrived. Whereupon this Blondel resolving to make search for him in many countries but he would hear some newes of him. After experience of divers dayes in travaille, he came to a towne (by good hap) neere to the Castell where his maister King Richard was kept. Of his host he demanded
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