CHAPTER III. »Mi»! THE RELICS BROUGHT FROM CONSTANTINOPLE THE young bride Eleanora, in her residence at Bordeaux, had formed the acquaintance of Guy de Lusignan, second son of the ex-queen Isabella and Count Hugh le Marche, and through his kindly attentions she had been apprized of the events that agitated England. She learned that her. royal parents had been nnder the necessity of taking up their residence in the Tower of London, almost in the con-dition of state prisoners, and that her gallant husband had exchanged the sports of a knight for " the game of kings." Anxious for his safety, and desirous to assist in the release of the royal family, or share their captivity, she besonght Count Guy to conduct her thither. He represented the danger of such a proceeding, and strove by every argu-ment to induce her to remain in France, but in vain. The traits of character, that subsequently made her the heroine, already developed in unchanging affection, and invincible firmness, overbore all opposition, and with a retinue scarce-ly suitable for her rank, and insufficient for her protection in case of attack, she set off for England. They reached the island without accident, and had ap-proached in sight of London, when the great bell of St. Paul's startled them with its hurried peal, and they almost instantly found themselves surrounded by an infuriated mob. The simplicity of their attire shielded them from observation, and they passed some time unmolested among the crowd, but the vindictive shouts of the multitude, cry-ing, " Down with the Jews ! down with the followers of the virago of Provence !" so alarmed the little Eva, that she was unable to keep her seat upon the pillion of the knight who had her in charge, and Sir Guy at length obtained for them a shelter in an humble tenement upon the banks of the Thames. 356 HEROINES OF THE CRUSADES.