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Itinerary
222
Musse, according to hereditary custom, brought up a large number of
noble boys in his palace, causing them to be taught every kind of learning
and accomplishment, and to be instructed in various languages, until they
could converse in them without the aid of an interpreter, in any nation of
the known world. Cruelty of the greatest degree was also inculcated with
profound secrecy; and the pupils were carefully and anxiously trained to
follow it up. When they reach the age of puberty, the senior calls them to
him, and enjoins on them, for the remission of their sins, to slay some great
man, whom he mentions by name; and for this purpose he gives to each of
them a poniard, of terrible length and sharpness. From their devoted
obedience, they never hesitate to set out, as they are commanded; nor do
they pause until they have reached the prince, or tyrant, who has been
pointed out to them; and they remain in his service until they find a
favourable opportunity for accomplishing their purpose; for by so doing
they believe they shall gain the favour of heaven. Of this sect were the
persons who slew the marquis.
Now while he was breathing his last, the attendants who were about
him took him up in their arms and carried him to the palace, mourning and
weeping inconsolably; the more so, as their joy had been, but now, so great.
He enjoined his wife to attend carefully to the preservation of the city of
Tyre, and to resign it to no one, save King Richard, or to whomsoever the
kingdom should fall by right of heirship. Immediately afterwards be
expired, and was buried in the Hospital, amidst great mourning and
lamentation. Thus the former state of excitement and public joy was cut
short; and the dominion so long desired, but not yet secured, vanished. The
cheering hopes of that desolate land were destroyed, and intense grief
superseded the former gladness.
Chapter XXVII. Ñ How the French, from envy, accused King Richard of the
marquisÕs death.
In the confusion which now prevailed amongst the people, the tares
which an enemy had sown sprung up and corrupted the wheat. For it was
whispered by certain of the French, who sought to veil their own

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Itinerary
223
wickedness by such a falsehood, and they infused it into the minds of all
the people, that King Richard had vilely brought about the death of the
marquis, and that he had hired these men from the Assassins for that
purpose. Oh, infamous and malicious envy, that always carps at virtue,
hates what is good, and endeavours to blacken the splendour which it
cannot extinguish! Nor were they content with defaming the character of
King Richard in those quarters, but also sent a warning to the king of
France, to be on his guard against the satellites of the old man of Musse;
detailing the manner in which the marquis died, and stating that King
Richard had directed four of these ministers of superstition against himself.
What did not they deserve who fabricated such misrepresentations, by
means of which so many nations are believed to have been confounded,
and so many provinces shaken! The infamous authors thought, by the
invention of this malicious slander, to add to their own strength, and
perhaps palliate their own wickedness.
Chapter XXVIII. Ñ How Count Henry was chosen king at Tyre, and how
messengers were sent to report this and the assassination of the marquis to King
Richard.
After the marquis was buried, the French, who lived in tents outside
the city, to the number of about 10,000, met together, and after a long
discussion, sent orders to the wife of the marquis, bidding her to place the
city in their charge, without delay or opposition, for the service of the king
of France. But the queen replied, that when King Richard came to see her,
she would give it up to him, and to no one else, for such were the
commands of her dying lord, as there was no one who had laboured so
much to rescue the Holy Land from the hands of the Turks, and restore it
to its former freedom; and that the kingdom ought to be given to the
bravest man, to dispose of it us he thought fit. The French were
exceedingly indignant at this reply, and while they were striving to obtain
possession of the city, Count Henry, astonished at what he heard had taken
place, came unexpectedly to Tyre; and when the people saw him amongst
them, they forthwith chose him as their prince, as if he had been sent by

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