t, Anselm, knowing the Red King's character, and not
feeling himself safe in England, asked leave to return abroad. The Red
King gladly gave it; for he knew that as soon as Anselm was gone, he
could begin to store up all the Canterbury money again, for his own use.

By such means, and by taxing and oppressing the English people in every
possible way, the Red King became very rich. When he wanted money for
any purpose, he raised it by some means or other, and cared nothing for
the injustice he did, or the misery he caused. Having the opportunity of
buying from Robert the whole duchy of Normandy for five years, he taxed
the English people more than ever, and made the very convents sell their
plate and valuables to supply him with the means to make the purchase.
But he was as quick and eager in putting down revolt as he was in raising
money; for, a part of the Norman people objecting--very naturally, I
think--to being sold in this way, he headed an army against them with all
the speed and energy of his father. He was so impatient, that he
embarked for Normandy in a great gale of wind. And when the sailors told
him it was dangerous to go to sea in such angry weather, he replied,
'Hoist sail and away! Did you ever hear of a king who was drowned?'

You will wonder how it was that even the careless Robert came to sell his
dominions. It happened thus. It had long been the custom for many
English people to make journeys to Jerusalem, which were called
pilgrimages, in order that they might pray beside the tomb of Our Saviour
there. Jerusalem belonging to the Turks, and the Turks hating
Christianity, these Christian travellers were often insulted and ill
used. The Pilgrims bore it patiently for some time, but at length a
remarkable man, of great earnestness and eloquence, called PETER THE
HERMIT, began to preach in various places against the Turks, and to
declare that it was the duty of good Christians to drive away those
unbelievers from the tomb of Our Saviour, and to take possession of it,
and protect it. An excitement such as the world had never known before
was created. Thousands and thousands of men of all ranks and conditions
departed for Jerusalem to make war against the Turks. The war is called
in history the first Crusade, and every Crusader wore a cross marked on
his right shoulder.

All the Crusaders were not zealous Christians. Among them were vast
numbers of the restless, idle, profligate, and adventur