[Footnote 74: Yet he was guilty in the opinion of the
Moslems, who attest the confession of the assassins, that
they were sent by the king of England, (Bohadin, p. 225;)
and his only defence is an absurd and palpable forgery,
(Hist. de l'Academie des Inscriptions, tom. xv. p. 155 -
163,) a pretended letter from the prince of the assassins,
the Sheich, or old man of the mountain, who justified
Richard, by assuming to himself the guilt or merit of the
murder.
Note: Von Hammer (Geschichte der Assassinen, p. 202) sums up
against Richard, Wilken (vol. iv. p. 485) as strongly for
acquittal. Michaud (vol. ii. p. 420) delivers no decided
opinion. This crime was also attributed to Saladin, who is
said, by an Oriental authority, (the continuator of Tabari,)
to have employed the assassins to murder both Conrad and
Richard. It is a melancholy admission, but it must be
acknowledged, that such an act would be less inconsistent
with the character of the Christian than of the Mahometan
king. - M.]