The Betrothed

Yet the British chieftains, among the thousands whom this spirit- stirring summons called fromtheir native land to a distant and perilous expedition, had perhaps the best excuse for declining thesummons. The superior skill of the Anglo-Norman knights, who were engaged in constant inroadson the Welsh frontier, and who were frequently detaching from it large portions, which theyfortified with castles, thus making good what they had won, was avenged, indeed, but notcompensated, by the furious inroads of the British, who, like the billows of a retiring tide, rolled onsuccessively, with noise, fury, and devastation; but, on each retreat, yielded ground insensibly to theirinvaders.A union among the native princes might have opposed a strong and permanent barrier to theencroachments of the strangers; but they were, unhappily, as much at discord among themselves asthey were with the Normans, and were constantly engaged in private war with each other, of whichthe common enemy had the sole advantage.The invitation to the Crusade promised something at least of novelty to a nation peculiarly ardentin their temper; and it was accepted by many, regardless of the consequences which must ensue, tothe country which they left defenceless. Even the most celebrated enemies of the Saxon andNorman race laid aside their enmity against the invaders of their country, to enrol themselves underthe banners of the Crusade. More