Oliver Goldsmith

A History of England in a Series of Letters from a Nobleman to His Son Oliver Goldsmith

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1786. Excerpt: ... their own laws, and prosessing subjection only to the pope. In this situation were affairs, when Richard, the fon of Henry, came by succession. n o to the government, in which his reign made no material alteration. The priests being the most powersul body of men, it is not surprising to find the king seconding their schemes, which perhaps he found it impossible to oppose. Religion was then the pretext for every sinister action, obedience to the church the only rule of merit; and to oppose the enemies of Christianity, was preached up as an antidote" for every former transgression. The kingdom of Palestine had been, for some time, the theatre of war, and had drained Europe of its most chosen troops, which sell like leaves in autumn, either by pestilence, famine, or the sword. In this quarrel the clergy found means to embark the king, by awakening his ambition, and strengthening his natural superstition. A romantic desire for strange adventures, and an immoderate zeal for the external parts of Christianity, were the ruling passions of the times, and they easily became the ruling passions of Richird. Impressed with a desire of rescuing the Holy Land from the infidels, he left England, and with a numerous army passed through France, took Cyprus from a Christian prince, landed in Palestine, overcame Saladine with a slaughter of forty thoufand Saracens took several cities from the infidels, and gained much reputation for conduct and personal bravery"; yet, after all, he acquired no real advantages for himself, or the cause in which he was engaged. Having concluded a true for three years with Saladine, he set fail for his return; but, his ships being dispersed by a tempest, he wa obliged to land upon the coasts of Italy, where, pursuing his way homeward by land,...