The Crusades Page #3

Don't you know him?

No.

But I've heard the minstrels

sing of his chivalry...

his bravery

and his gentleness.

Yes, his gentleness.

Yes, they sing

of a saint in armor

leading the blessed Crusade.

Then they're better singers

than I am.

What do you want of him,

lass?

I have flowers for him.

Flowers?

He'd rather have

a side of beef.

We haven't eaten for a week.

Oh, but we have plenty.

We shall help you.

My father

has thousands of cattle.

Where's your king?

Thousands of...

Yonder.

Bring that catapult

into line with the street.

Hail to the King.

Come along, Tina. Hurry.

# Round the mountain

now we go #

# A fair young face to see #

# And now

the ocean billows blow #

# Broad as they can be ##

Hold those horses!

Block the wheels

or it'll go through

that house.

Stop it!

Fix the left block.

Look out!

Get the other block,

then pull.

Now, get the chocks

under those wheels...

and bring the back wheels

over to that side.

Tina, that's King Richard.

Get a company

of crossbowmen...

and bring them up here

to give these men a hand!

Aye, sire.

Now, come on,

look lively there!

Come on, pull over there.

Don't fret that horse,

you idiot!

Look out!

The King's horse!

He's hurt the King's horse.

That's blood.

He'll catch it.

Blockhead, you'll hang

if that horse is crippled.

Now then, men,

all together!

Aye, sire.

That can't be Richard.

Oh, yes, that's Richard.

Move along, there.

What are you waiting for?

I hope he starves.

The King!

We've got to see the King!

King Richard.

Sire.

Silence!

Well, what is it?

Sire, we've had no food

for days.

We must eat.

I'll get you food,

but stop howling for it!

But, sire...

King Sancho.

I'll give you a bond

on the City of London

for your cattle.

And what should I do

with your City of London?

Can you move London

to my poor Kingdom of Navarre?

No, no, Richard.

You heard my price.

I cannot pay it.

But Navarre

is a poor country.

And I am a poor king.

We drove our cattle

down to Marseille...

to sell to you Crusaders

for gold...

not promises.

By the devil's teeth,

I'll take what I need.

No, Richard.

Seize all his cattle!

Richard!

You wear the cross.

You may not plunder

another Christian.

Or strike one.

Still, there is a way.

Well?

I have a daughter.

A fair, sweet girl.

Just like a flower.

A girl,

but ready to be married.

You understand?

No.

Marry her.

Marry your daughter?

Yes.

Well, by the devil's beard.

I'll settle a dower on her.

Herds of cattle and sheep.

Shiploads of grain.

A hundred cartloads of fodder

for your horses.

You can marry your wench

to the devil!

Tighten your belt,

Robert.

Scour the countryside,

glean what you can.

The country's bare

as a wolf's tooth.

Sire, the men are truly

desperate for food.

Yes, sire, give us food.

We sail tomorrow.

We can't ship horses

without fodder.

How many head of cattle

have you in Navarre?

Six thousand.

How many?

Seven thousand.

How much grain?

Barley and wheat enough

to fill four cargo ships.

I'll marry your wench.

My Lord, think...

No, not now, Robert.

Would you crown

this unknown girl

Queen of England?

I said I'd marry her.

I said nothing about

the Crown of England.

Well, she'll arrange that.

Drive your cattle

and your carts here

into my camp.

I'll marry your girl

when we come back

from Crusade.

Promises.

Promises.

All right, all right, here.

This is surety

that I'll marry your daughter

whenever you say.

What's her name?

Berengaria.

And you'll marry her tonight.

Yes, yes, yes, tonight.

My son.

Make way

for the King of Navarre.

Robert, have his cattle driven

into our lines...

and the grain

stored in our ships.

This wedding, sire...

No, never mind that.

Just tell the men

that they'll eat tonight.

Yes, sire.

But, Daughter,

he's your saint in armor.

Your pure white knight.

The minstrels

sing his praises,

you've heard them.

You'll bless me

for this marriage, my child.

Never.

If you'd given your cattle

to help the Crusade...

this never

would have happened.

Well, I did!

I gave him the cattle,

and he gives you a crown.

But he's such a noble king.

So gentle.

Didn't you strew flowers

in his path?

Why, Daughter,

what's the matter?

# When the sun goes down

for another day #

# And the Dipper dips

to the Milky Way #

# We up with our cups

with a heigh and a ho #

# Heigh-ho and down we go ##

Hercules! Steady,

my dear friend.

Hey, Blondel, no, no, no.

You'll sing for your dinner.

# Oh, the man in the moon

has a light in his eye #

# And the Dog Star barks

in the midnight sky #

# Our king

he lifts his cup on high #

# Heigh-ho and down we go ##

All right, Blondel,

you've earned your dinner.

Here we go.

Let's cut this up.

Well, what is it?

The lady is waiting.

What lady?

Berengaria of Navarre,

whom you will marry, sire.

Marry?

Sire!

# Oh,

Richard is no ladies' man

though something of a sinner #

# He eats and drinks

and now he pays Navarre #

# for Blondel's dinner ##

Shut up, fool.

No light matter to wed

the daughter of Navarre.

I hope she's lighter

than her father.

Sire, let me lead you

to the bridal bower.

I'll do more.

I'll send you in my place.

But, Richard, I can't. I...

Draw my sword.

Huh?

Draw my sword.

Now bear it with you

to the chapel.

A sword to a wedding?

Have you never heard

that one of royal blood...

may send his sword

to the altar in his stead?

Good Brother?

Marriage by token

is your privilege, sire.

Oh, what will Navarre say

to this bridegroom?

That's for you to worry about.

Come on, Blondel.

Don't keep the lady waiting.

I'll tell your wife, Blondel.

This is a bad beginning.

He's a ladies' man.

# Blondel,

he would a-wooing go #

# Whether his mother

would let him or no #

# Blondel,

he would a-wooing go #

# Whether his mother

would let him or no #

# Heigh-ho and down we go ##

Where is King Richard?

Here.

That's King Richard's

minstrel.

And King Richard's sword.

Yes, my Lord of Navarre.

He sent his sword as a token.

A token? Of what?

Isn't Richard coming?

He is in despair

that he cannot be here.

What?

A thousand duties assail him.

And so, in his place,

he sent me.

You?

His minstrel.

No, no, milady.

He didn't send me

in his place.

He didn't send me.

He sent his sword

to be wed to you.

Just as if my king himself

were here.

Your gallant king.

I am tricked.

Tricked by

that rogue of a Richard.

That breaker of promises!

I'll have the blood

out of you for this.

Good Brother, tell him.

Sire, the man says true.

If your daughter

marries this sword,

she marries King Richard.

Eh?

Such is the law.

The law? The law?

And the marriage

will hold?

Until death.

There, you see, my child?

You were mistaken.

Didn't I tell you

Richard was a man of his word?

A pure knight, a noble king.

Let us begin the ceremony.

No!

No, I will not.

But, my child.

No, Father, let me go.

Please let me go!

But it's the man himself

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