from putting his foot into the stirrup. This, however, was a slight inconvenience to the gallant Abbot, who, perhaps, even rejoiced in the opportunity to display his accomplished horsemanship before so many spectators, especially of the fair sex. The rest of Prince John's retinue consisted of the favourite leaders of his mercenary troops, some marauding barons and profligate attendants upon the court, with several Knights Templars and Knights of St John.
It may be here remarked, that the knights of these two orders were accounted hostile to King Richard, having adopted the side of Philip of France in the long train of disputes which took place betwixt that monarch and the lion-hearted King of England. It was the well-known consequence of this discord that Richard's repeated victories were rendered fruitless, his romantic attempts to besiege Jerusalem were disappointed, and the fruit of all the glory which he had acquired dwindled into an uncertain truce with the Sultan Saladine. With the same policy which had dictated the conduct of their brethren in the
